- The Kiambu High Court has stopped construction at the Githunguri affordable housing site
- The court ordered the contractor to vacate and remove structures on the disputed land
- The case involves a standoff between the government and Agikuyu elders
- A recent cultural ritual at the site intensified the dispute
Construction works at the contested Githunguri affordable housing project have been brought to a sudden halt after a ruling by the High Court in Kiambu.
Justice Bahati Mwamunye directed that all activities on the 58-acre parcel be stopped with immediate effect, pending the hearing of an ongoing case.
The court also went further, ordering the contractor to leave the site and dismantle the perimeter wall that had already been put up.
At the centre of the matter is a growing dispute between government authorities and elders from the Agikuyu community over the ownership and cultural significance of the land.
The project, part of the government’s wider affordable housing programme, has faced resistance from local leaders who argue that the site holds deep traditional value.
The legal challenge was filed shortly after tensions escalated on the ground.
Days before the court ruling, a group of Kikuyu elders gathered at the site and conducted a symbolic ritual, marking their opposition to the development.
The ceremony included traditional practices meant to send a strong message against what they see as interference with their heritage.
Following the event, lawyer Njoroge Mwangi moved to court seeking orders to stop the project, arguing that it should not proceed without addressing cultural concerns.
The ruling has been welcomed by some community leaders, including Gitau Boro, who described it as a win for cultural recognition.
He urged the government to respect the court’s decision and allow dialogue on the future of the land.
Boro also referenced traditional beliefs and called for respect for long-standing cultural practices tied to the site.
With construction now suspended, the future of the housing project remains unclear as the case moves forward in court.
The government is yet to issue a detailed response to the ruling, but the decision is likely to slow down progress on one of its key housing initiatives.
For now, attention shifts to the legal proceedings, which will determine whether the project can resume or be permanently halted.
