AG Oduor, IG Kanja risk jail after Wamatangi demolition

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi tours his demolished business premises along Douglas Wakihuri Road Nairobi on January 14,2025. [Benard Orwongo,Standard]

Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) Chief Executive Officer Phillip Mainga, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja now risk jail after the  Tuesday night demolition of a business premises owned by Kiambu governor Kimani wa Matangi.

It emerged that Superclean Shine Enterprise Limited sued Kenya Railways and the Attorney General in December last year, following the first threat of demolishing the structures opposite Nyayo Stadium.

On the day that the property was demolished, the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi had issued orders against the two from either interfering, evicting or demolishing the property until the hearing of the application.

 Principal Magistrate Muthoni Njagi issued the orders.

“  An order order of injunction be and is hereby issued restraining the Respondents either by themselves and or or through the their agents, servants and/or anyone under their authority from demolishing, destroying and/or in any other manner interfering with the structures erected on all that property known as Plot Number 209/1618 situate along Douglas Wakiihuri Road off Lang'ata Road (formerly known as Aerodrome Road), adjacent to Nyayo National Stadium,” the orders read in part.

The AG’s office received the orders at 3.08 pm, while KR was served with the same orders 15 minutes later.

In the case, Superclean told the court that it had leased the property from the Railways and had been occupying it for two decades.

It stated that it had continuously and consistently paid the required rent without any disturbance.

“ In furtherance of the purpose for which the suit property was leased, and with the knowledge, consent, and/or continued acquiescence of the 1st Defendant, the Plaintiff erected business structures and carried out developments on the suit property at considerable expense, and has for many years operated its business therefrom,” documents filed by Rachier and Amollo Advocates read in part.

Workers and business owners try to salvage what they can from the rubble of businesses flattened during a demolition along Douglas Wakiihuri Road on Jan. 14, 2026. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

It further claimed that the drama started on December 17, 2025, when KR employees allegedly ordered them to vacate the place.

 “ The first defendant’s officers, agents, servants and or employees unlawfully entered upon the Plaintiff’s business premises situate on the suit property and issued verbal notices and/or threats of eviction of the Plaintiff therefrom, together with notice and threats of demolition of the structures and developments lawfully erected by the Plaintiff, on the false allegation that the Plaintiff was unlawfully occupying the suit property,” the court heard.

Two days later, on December 19, a contingent of police officers allegedly surrounded the place with a bulldozer.

Wamatangi’s lawyer said that a stand-off between them and the officers lasted until 4 am the following morning, when the officers left.

The company argued that Kenya Railways was all along aware that it had put up a business park and had been receiving lease payments as had been agreed.

It also alleged that the sudden change of heart was illegal and actuated by an ulterior motive.

Superclean asserted that the corporation ought to have followed the law if it required it to leave.

“ The plaintiff avers that by reason of the long-standing lease relationship, the plaintiff’s continuous and lawful occupation of the suit property, the consistent payment and acceptance of rent, and the first defendant’s knowledge, consent, and or acquiescence to the plaintiff’s developments and business operations thereon."

"The Plaintiff acquired a legitimate expectation that its tenancy and quiet possession of the suit property would not be interfered with except in strict accordance with the law. The first defendant is thus estopped from alleging that the plaintiff is an unlawful occupant or from evicting the Plaintiff otherwise than through due process,” the company said.

The court heard that the decision to demolish the property was in effect killing the livelihoods of persons who were working there and Wamatangi’s business.

The lawyer said that the property was demolished at 2 am. He stated that he would now seek to have Mainga, Oduor, and Kanja found to be in contempt of court orders.