The government’s planned affordable housing project in Githunguri, Kiambu County, has been suspended after the High Court issued orders halting all activities on land claimed to be of historical and cultural importance by Kikuyu elders.

In a ruling delivered this week, Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed the contractor to immediately cease operations on the contested 58-acre property, pull down the perimeter wall, and vacate the site.

The court further ordered the removal of all machinery, equipment, and fencing installed on the land.

The judge issued conservatory orders barring any excavation, construction, or interference with the property identified as Githunguri Kiawairera until the case is fully heard and determined.

According to court documents, the land hosts several sites recognized as national monuments under Gazette Notices 244 and 245 of 2011, including the Thingira wa Iregi, historic gallows, Mau Mau graves, and the Mau Mau Veterans Stadium.

These sites are at the center of the dispute, with petitioners arguing they are integral to Kenya’s liberation history.

The ruling comes days after tensions escalated when a group of Kikuyu elders attempted to access the land to conduct traditional rites but were blocked by police.

In response, the elders performed the ceremony by the roadside, where they broke a calabash in a symbolic act meant to curse those they accuse of disregarding Kikuyu traditions and heritage.

In its orders, the court also instructed the respondents to restore the land to its original state before the disputed developments began.

Additionally, they have been restrained from taking any further action that could alter the condition of the site or undermine the ongoing legal proceedings.

The case highlights a growing clash between state-led development initiatives and efforts by local communities to safeguard culturally and historically significant locations.

The matter will now proceed to full hearing, where the court will determine the future of the land.