High Court Issues Interim Orders Halting Construction on Ruiru-Ngong Commuter Railway

The High Court in Nairobi has temporarily halted construction of the Ruiru-Ngong commuter railway line following an application in a pending constitutional petition. Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the interim conservatory orders on Tuesday after the respondents, led by the Kenya Railways Corporation, did not comply with earlier court directions to file and serve their responses by December 30, 2025.

The judge noted that proper service had been effected on the respondents, who include several state agencies alongside the corporation. He found no satisfactory explanation had been provided for the failure to meet the deadline."I am satisfied that proper service was effected and that the respondents have not disclosed any reason why they did not file responses as directed by this court," Justice Mwamuye stated in the ruling.

Counsel for Kenya Railways pointed to a separate order from the Nakuru High Court that suspended the engagement of private law firms by public entities, but the petitioner argued this did not prevent representation and that the timelines had been set before the Nakuru decision. The orders restrain the Kenya Railways Corporation and the other named respondents, along with their employees, agents, contractors and associated entities, from continuing to implement, finance or progress construction of the project.

The ruling pauses any ongoing construction activities on the line, described in court documents as the Ruiru-Ngong commuter railway, while the substantive petition proceeds. The matter has been adjourned for further directions.