The High Court Suspends Sh11 Billion Riruta-Lenana-Ngong Commuter Rail Project marks a significant setback for President William Ruto's government, which has prioritized infrastructure development to boost economic growth and ease Nairobi's chronic traffic congestion.
In a ruling issued on January 20, 2026, the High Court temporarily halted construction of the Sh11 billion meter-gauge railway commuter line connecting Riruta, Lenana, and Ngong.
The suspension comes pending the full hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and two co-petitioners, activists Bernard Muchiri Muchere and Naomi Nyakerario Misati.
The project, part of the Nairobi Commuter Rail modernization initiative under Kenya Railways Corporation, spans approximately 12.5 km and includes new stations at Lenana, Karen, Bulbul, and Ngong.
It aims to provide a safer, more reliable, and eco-friendly transport option for thousands of daily commuters in one of Nairobi's rapidly expanding residential and commercial areas, ultimately reducing road traffic and transit times.
Omtatah's petition challenges the project's legality on several grounds, including alleged lack of transparency in costing and funding sources, absence of parliamentary approval for expenditures, unconstitutional use of the Railway Development Levy Fund, no comprehensive feasibility study, potential environmental risks, and insufficient public participation.
The petitioners argue that proceeding without these safeguards violates key constitutional provisions on public finance and governance.
The court, recognizing the urgency, granted conservatory orders to preserve the status quo while directing parties to file responses ahead of the substantive hearing.
This development follows earlier filings in early January 2026, where Omtatah sought to terminate the deal outright.
For the Ruto administration, the halt represents a blow to flagship infrastructure ambitions amid efforts to decongest the capital and improve urban mobility.
Critics view it as another instance of judicial intervention in government projects, while supporters of the petition hail it as a win for accountability and constitutionalism.
The case underscores ongoing tensions between rapid development goals and legal oversight in Kenya's public projects.
Construction remains paused until the court determines the petition's merits.
