High Court Stops Githunguri Affordable Housing Project, Orders Demolition of Wall

The High Court in Kiambu has temporarily stopped the ongoing affordable housing project in Githunguri after a dispute over the ownership and cultural importance of the land.

In a ruling issued on Thursday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye ordered the contractor to immediately stop all construction work on the 58-acre piece of land. The court also directed those working on the project to leave the site without delay.

The judge further ordered that the perimeter wall already built around the land be demolished. The court said the current condition of the land should remain unchanged until the case is fully heard and decided.

The contractor was also instructed to remove all machines, construction equipment, and fencing materials that had been placed on the disputed land.

According to the court order, all activities connected to the housing project must stop immediately until the petition before the court is determined.

The case comes after growing tension between the government and members of the Agikuyu community, who have strongly opposed the project.

Community elders say the land is not just an ordinary piece of property but a sacred historical site that carries deep cultural meaning.

Last week, the disagreement became more serious when Agikuyu elders tried to access the land to perform traditional prayers and rituals. However, police officers who had been deployed to guard the area reportedly stopped them from entering.

Even after being denied access, the elders went ahead and carried out symbolic rituals by the roadside. This included breaking a calabash, which they said was meant to curse those ignoring the cultural significance of the site.

The disputed land, commonly known as Githunguri Kia Wairera, is considered an important ancestral shrine by the Kikuyu community.

Elders claim that the site is believed to be the place where at least 54 Mau Mau fighters were killed during the colonial period. Because of this history, many residents see it as a symbol of sacrifice, resistance, and heritage.

The petition was filed by lawyer Njoroge Mwangi together with the Agikuyu Council of Elders and several community lobby groups.

They argue that the government did not carry out proper public participation before starting the multi-million housing project.

The groups also warned that putting up 2,180 housing units on the land would destroy a sacred cultural site and wipe away an important part of the community’s history.

The court is expected to give further directions once the matter comes up for full hearing.