Tensions have heightened at the 600-acre Imani Estate in Ruiru, Kiambu County with residents living in fear of eviction from the posh location.
The Sh 10 billion property located along the Ruiru – Githunguri road has been at the center of a bitter dispute between the family of former spy chief, the late James Kanyotu and buyers and developers since last year when the High Court rules that the land still belongs to the family of the deceased.
However, the close to 1,000 families living there later obtained a stay order maintaining the status quo and blocking any eviction until the matter is heard and determined.
Now, the residents accuse police in Ruiru of ignoring their plight and failing to act on reports made at the local police station as the row over the land initially owned by Kanyotu intensifies.
The developers who bought plots and built palatial homes on the prime land accused police of taking sides in the dispute and failing to act on their complaints.
Led by their Chairman Kamande Ndung’u, the residents asked the government to act and ensure their security after armed goons were seen in the area accompanying and guarding surveyors working around the estate with bulldozers.
“Over the last two days, strangers have been surveying the land accompanied by goons who are heavily armed with crude weapons. We suspect there is a move to demolish our homes even with a stay order from the High Court in effect,” said Kamande.
He lamented that the matter has been reported several times at the Ruiru police station but the security officers failed to take action and instead arrested their members.
“Our pleas have been ignored by local police bosses and we fear there is a move to demolish our homes. Instead of acting on our complaints, the security officers have been arresting and harassing our members,” said the Chairman.
The residents are now calling for the transfer of senior police officers from the area, accusing them of being compromised.
Mugo Kandiri, a resident, most of them bought their plots in 2012 and built residential houses.
He added that police now have arrogated themselves power of courts to determine who are the property owners and called for the immediate removal of local commanders whom he claims are biased.
Reached for comment, area sub county police commander Charles Kibathi declined to pick phone calls or respond to text messages.
The land has been at the center of a succession litigation in the High Court which is yet to be determined.
Administrators of the estate previously registered under Kangaita Coffee Estate Limited in Ruiru had warned buyers against falling into the trap of some individuals who were purporting to sell the property to clueless members of the public.
The estate administrators had earlier claimed that despite court orders, some individuals were purporting to sell the property to unsuspecting members of the public.
“Any transactions carried out in disregard of these orders would be void ab initio and of no legal effect,” the administrators stated in a letter.
They asked potential buyers and interested parties to exercise caution and verify ownership details to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
In July 2025, the Environment and Land Court ruled that the property remains part of Kangaita Coffee Estate Limited, where Kanyotu was the majority shareholder, after a long-running dispute involving multiple companies and alleged transactions.
Delivering his judgment on July 10, Justice Oguttu Mboya ruled that the sale of the land was illegal, null and void.
The court had found that previous orders issued in 2010 in a succession case relating to Kanyotu’s estate had expressly prohibited any dealings with the land, making any subsequent transactions unlawful.
The court heard that, despite these restrictions, Kangaita Coffee Estate’s land was purportedly sold to Trendsetters Investments Limited for Sh700 million and later to Marriott Africa International Limited for Sh750 million.
Marriott later transferred the land to Ukombozi Holdings Limited.
However, those who have settled on the land or established businesses there went back to court and obtained a stay order suspending Justice Oguttu’s ruling until the application is heard and finalized.
