The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Kenya Railways has dismissed claims that the demolition of property linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi was targeted or driven by politics, maintaining that the action followed due process and long-standing legal notices.
Officials said the demolition of the governor’s business premises along Douglas Wakiihuri Road off Lang’ata Road resulted from what they termed as continued disregard for lawful directives to vacate public land. According to the corporation, a notice to vacate was issued more than six years ago, but was ignored, leaving enforcement as the only remaining option.
The parastatal insisted that the exercise was part of a broader, lawful effort to reclaim public land and was neither selective nor politically influenced. The land in question, situated along a key railway corridor near Nyayo and Talanta stadiums, is said to fall within a protected railway reserve.
Kenya Railways accused the governor of knowingly continuing business operations on the land despite its public status, an action it says went against both the law and public interest.
Wamatangi, however, has rejected the claims, describing the demolition as politically motivated and an act of intimidation.
“It is cowardly and purely political,” he said following the overnight operation.
The demolition was carried out at night using bulldozers and excavators under police escort, bringing down semi-permanent structures on the site. A car yard, car wash, and restaurant were among the businesses affected, with vehicles and other property damaged.
By morning, the extent of the destruction was evident, with debris scattered across the area and sections of Douglas Wakiihuri Road temporarily closed, causing traffic disruptions.
Nairobi Police Commander George Seda confirmed police presence during the operation, saying officers were deployed to secure the area and assist Kenya Railways after all legal and administrative avenues had been exhausted.
“The owners were notified to vacate but resisted, prompting our involvement in the demolition,” Seda said, adding that no injuries were reported.
Kenya Railways defended the operation as part of a sustained and disciplined campaign to recover public land illegally occupied by private developers. Under Managing Director Philip Mainga, the corporation has stepped up efforts nationwide to repossess encroached land and unlock stalled development projects.
The recovered land along the Lang’ata corridor is earmarked for major railway infrastructure expansion tied to Talanta Stadium and related developments, which are expected to generate employment, improve logistics, and spur economic growth.
A senior Kenya Railways official emphasized that public land must benefit the wider public rather than individual interests, noting that the recovery drive is being conducted transparently, professionally, and without political bias.
