NAIROBI, Kenya- Several businesses and properties worth millions of shillings were flattened during a night demolition operation around the Nyayo area on Tuesday, January 13, as the government cleared land for a major transport infrastructure project.
Bulldozers and excavators tore through structures along Douglas Wakiihiru Road, just behind Nyayo National Stadium, under heavy police presence.
Armed officers were deployed to secure the area and manage the operation, which stretched into the night.
Among the properties destroyed were vehicles parked in car yards, car wash facilities, restaurants, and other commercial premises, many of which were reportedly operational before the demolitions.
Images from the scene also show burning tyres on the road, suggesting that some business owners and residents attempted to resist the demolitions. The protests, however, were quickly contained as police maintained control of the area.
According to preliminary information, some of the affected properties are linked to a sitting governor, although no official confirmation has been issued by authorities.
Notices Issued Ahead of Demolitions
Government sources indicate that multiple eviction notices had been issued to occupants in the area, requiring them to vacate ahead of the operation.
The demolitions are part of preparations for the construction of a new train station, which is expected to connect Nairobi CBD, Nyayo Stadium, and the upcoming Talanta Stadium.
The operation caused a major traffic snarl-up along Langata Road, one of Nairobi’s busiest corridors, as debris clearance and security operations continued into the morning hours.
This is not the first time businesses around Nyayo have been demolished for state projects. In 2019, the government flattened a car bazaar opposite Nyayo Stadium, also linked to Governor Wamatangi, which housed several enterprises including restaurants, pharmacies, salons, boutiques, and cosmetic shops.
The latest demolitions mirror a growing trend of urban redevelopment clashes in Nairobi, where infrastructure expansion has increasingly collided with informal and semi-formal business setups.
The Nyayo incident comes just months after Ngara residents protested the demolition of shops at Fig Tree Market in October 2025.
In that case, traders resisted eviction after their lease expired, arguing they had not been adequately consulted before plans to construct modern housing units were implemented.
As Nairobi pushes ahead with ambitious infrastructure and housing projects, the tension between development priorities and livelihoods continues to spark controversy.
Authorities are yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing compensation, relocation plans, or timelines for the Nyayo-area project.
