Political activist Zacharia Baraza has obtained a temporary court order stopping the Kenyan government from proceeding with any development at the Bungoma Airstrip grounds (Kiwanja Ndege).
The Kenyan Government had intended to initiate projects, including the proposed Affordable Housing Project, on the 36.95-acre parcel known as Land Parcel No. Bungoma Township/345 in Kanduyi Constituency, Bungoma County.
The order, issued yesterday January 7, 2026, by Hon. Justice Enock C. Cherono of the Environment and Land Court at Bungoma, comes amid growing controversy surrounding the site’s current status as an airstrip and plans to repurpose it.
The court document, in Case No. ELCLPET/E001/2026 — Zacharia Baraza vs. The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, the State Department for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the National Land Commission and three others — grants several temporary measures:
- A temporary conservatory order suspending ongoing construction, excavation, development, and related infrastructural works on the land in respect of the proposed Affordable Housing Project.
- A temporary prohibitory injunction restraining all respondents, their agents, developers, contractors and any persons acting under their authority from authorizing, facilitating, or permitting the development of the Affordable Housing Project or related works.
- An additional temporary prohibitory injunction specifically barring the conversion of the land from its current use as an airstrip to any other purpose, including the housing project.
The court certified the application as urgent, to be heard on priority during the court’s December vacation period, and fixed an inter-partes hearing for February 3, 2026.
Respondents have 14 days from service to file responses, while Baraza may file supplementary affidavits within seven days.
A penal notice in the order warns that any disobedience could result in penal consequences.
Baraza, a prominent Bungoma-based businessman, auctioneer and political figure, is positioning himself as a candidate for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections under the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) ticket.
Baraza has been vocal on local issues, including land matters, and has faced previous controversies in his political and professional life.
The land in question has been at the center of public debate in recent times. Reports indicate tensions over fencing and development activities on airstrip-related parcels, with some residents protesting perceived private or state overreach on public land.
While the government has advanced affordable housing initiatives in Bungoma (including in Musikoma Ward, Kanduyi Constituency), and separately pursued upgrades to Matulo Airstrip for commercial aviation, the specific parcel’s proposed shift to housing has sparked opposition from those advocating preservation of aviation infrastructure or public land integrity.
Governor Kenneth Lusaka has previously dismissed claims of land grabbing on airstrip-adjacent areas, stating that any de-gazettement was lawful and aimed at broader urban development like a potential Smart City, while emphasizing expansion of Matulo Airstrip.
This injunction temporarily freezes progress on the site pending full hearing, potentially amplifying debates on land use, public resources, and development priorities ahead of the 2027 polls.
Baraza’s legal action is seen by supporters as a stand for accountability and protection of community assets, while critics may view it as part of broader political maneuvering in the race to succeed Lusaka as governor.
The case continues to draw attention in Bungoma, where land, housing, and infrastructure remain hot-button issues. Further developments are expected at the February hearing.