City tycoon in demolition row files fresh suit against Sonko

City tycoon Mike Kamau Maina has filed a fresh suit in court seeking to stop Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko from interfering with his 20-acre plot in Nairobi’s Kayole Estate.

Mr Maina, through his company Muthithi Investments Ltd, says the governor has interfered with his repossession of the land despite a valid eviction order.

The dispute began in December after Mr Maina’s firm started demolishing houses on a 20-acre plot in Kayole but Mr Sonko allegedly intimidated the businessman and interfered with the eviction process.

“That a conservatory order does issue restraining the respondent … from interfering in any way whatsoever with the petitioner’s proprietorship and title to land reference … Nyama Villa Estate, Komarock, Nairobi … pending the hearing and determination of the application inter parties,” reads one of the orders sought by Muthithi Investments.

The businessman claims that he holds title to that land whose validity has been upheld by the court, noting that he went back to court and got eviction order after the court ruled in his favour.

He further wants Mr Sonko to be declared to have acted in breach of Chapter Six of the Constitution over the conduct of State officers on the ground that he interfered with a process sanctioned by court order.

The businessman says the action undermines the authority of the Judiciary.

More than 10,000 families whose homes were destroyed in the December demolitions at Nyama Villa Estate in Kayole had also sued the businessman for compensation.

The families accused Mr Maina’s firm, Muthithi Investments, of invading their homes, destroyed property and left them homeless.