The Environment and Lands Court in Thika has delivered a landmark ruling against the Kiambu County Government, ordering it to immediately surrender all revenues collected from the contested Kiambu Bus Park to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (Posta) dating back to 2018.
In a pivotal judgment delivered on October 21, 2025, Justice Jacqueline Mogeni affirmed Posta’s ownership of the 1.9-hectare plot (Kiambu/Municipality Block 2/284) and mandated the county to cease profiting from the unauthorized matatu terminus.
This decision enforces a longstanding 2018 injunction and delivers a major financial and operational setback to the county administration. The revenue surrender directive—potentially amounting to millions in matatu and kiosk fees—is the culmination of the protracted legal battle (Environment and Land Case No. 785 of 2017) over the prime piece of land adjacent to the Kiambu Post Office.
The dispute began in late 2017 when the county government, then led by former Governor Ferdinand Waititu, established the Kiambu Bus Park on the Posta-owned land. County officials had justified the move as necessary to relieve traffic congestion, despite the land being vested to Posta via Legal Notice No. 156 of 1999 and leased to private tenants for commercial use. Posta filed suit swiftly, alleging illegal land grabbing and defiance of property rights.
Despite a temporary injunction issued by Justice Lucy Gacheru in July 2018, which restrained the county from operating the stage or collecting revenues, the bus park remained operational for years. This persistent defiance prompted Posta to escalate the matter, including an appeal to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in March 2025 over allegations of abuse of office and illegal occupation under Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s tenure.
Justice Mogeni’s ruling upheld the core claims of Posta, rejecting the county’s defenses, including a plea for intergovernmental negotiations, stating that such processes do not excuse judicial violations. “Court orders are binding imperatives, not suggestions,” stated Posta Company Secretary Jane Masara, urging the county to comply immediately.
While the court dismissed contempt charges against Governor Wamatangi and County Secretary Peter Ndegwa due to evidentiary shortcomings, the financial restitution remains the most damaging aspect for the county. The ruling effectively prohibits the county from benefiting from the unauthorized use of the land since its encroachment.
The immediate implication of the ruling is the potential closure or relocation of the busy terminus. This poses a significant challenge for thousands of Kiambu residents who rely on the park for daily transport to Nairobi, Thika, and surrounding rural areas. Urban planners and transport stakeholders fear the disruption could exacerbate traffic congestion in the town center, forcing matatus onto roadsides and increasing safety risks for passengers, given the noted scarcity of alternative land for a viable terminus in Kiambu town.
The ruling has intensified pressure on Governor Wamatangi’s office, which has yet to issue an official response but is reportedly contemplating an appeal. This case has not only enforced property rights but also prompted a critical reevaluation of how devolved units balance development needs with legal boundaries in land-scarce urban environments.
