KIAMBU, Kenya — Property owners in Gitaru, Kiambu County, have secured a temporary court order halting construction of a new link road connecting the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway to the Western Bypass, after claiming the project cut off access to their homes and businesses.
The Environment and Land Court in Thika issued an injunction stopping all works until a full hearing is held on November 11.
The petitioners accuse the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) of blocking the only access route to their properties while fast-tracking construction of the interchange.
“Pending the inter-partes hearing of this application, a temporary injunction be issued barring the respondents, contractors, servants, agents or representatives from any further development or commissioning for use of the road,” the court ruled.
Residents said their properties are located near the V-junction where the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway splits toward the Western Bypass in Gitaru.
They claimed that while the road project was initially welcomed as a public benefit, recent works have made it nearly impossible to reach their homes and business premises.
According to court filings, the affected owners previously used an 800-metre access road running parallel to their plots.
However, KeNHA reportedly closed the route by installing concrete barriers and conducting large-scale excavation along property boundaries, forcing residents to walk long distances to reach their buildings.
“At first, the construction caused only minor inconveniences, and we accepted the disruptions believing the upgrade was for the public good,” the petitioners said. “But in late September, as KeNHA accelerated the interchange works, access was completely restricted.”
The residents also allege that the excavation has left their plots elevated by up to seven metres above the new road, creating safety hazards and making both pedestrian and vehicle entry nearly impossible.
Court papers further note that the loss of road access has reduced property values and rendered the use of the premises “unsafe and uneconomical.”
KeNHA is expected to respond when the matter is heard on November 11.
