Thika’s matatu operators can breathe easy after the Environment and Lands Court temporarily stopped an eviction order that threatened to disrupt operations at the busy Makongeni Bus Park.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Jacqueline Mogeni, suspended an earlier judgment requiring the Kiambu County Government to vacate the 4.7-acre parcel and hand it over to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), which claims ownership of the land.
The court’s decision followed an urgent application by the county, which argued that negotiations for an out-of-court settlement were already underway.
“Upon service, the respondents shall file their replying affidavit within five days,” Justice Mogeni directed, noting that the temporary orders will remain in place until November 20, 2025, when the case will be heard.
The Makongeni Bus Park, developed in 2018 under former Governor Ferdinand Waititu’s administration, has become one of Thika’s busiest transport hubs, serving thousands of commuters daily and providing income for hundreds of matatu operators, touts, and small traders.
Under Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s administration, the county has upgraded the facility, improving order and revenue collection. However, PCK has maintained that the land was never legally transferred and has continued to pursue compensation through the courts.
In its latest proposal, Kiambu County has offered Ksh315 million in compensation for two disputed parcels the Makongeni bus park and another 1.5-acre plot in Kiambu town. Postmaster-General John Tonui confirmed that the PCK board had conditionally accepted the offer, pending approvals from the Ministry of Lands and the National Treasury.
Tonui also proposed a retrospective lease to regularise the county’s occupation since 2018 a move that could pave the way for a negotiated settlement.
The reprieve comes as welcome news to Thika’s matatu community. “This bus park is our workplace. The court’s decision gives us hope that a fair solution will be found,” said one operator.
The park remains one of Kiambu County’s key revenue sources, contributing to efforts to raise between Ksh7 billion and Ksh8 billion in own-source revenue annually to fund the county’s Ksh22 billion 2023/2024 budget.
The case will return to court on November 20, with the outcome expected to set an important precedent for county land use and inter-agency property disputes in Kenya.
