In a move reeking of impunity, the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), backed by armed police, orchestrated a pre-dawn raid on two private container freight stations in Mombasa over the weekend, Kencont and Boss Freight, under the guise of reclaiming public land. The operation, marked by secrecy and brute force, has ignited outrage among a section of Kenyans and raised serious questions about the Kenya Kwanza administration’s respect for the rule of law, private property, and regional trade stability.
The raid, which began in the dead of night on Friday and escalated early Sunday morning, saw over 100 metres of Kencont’s perimeter wall defaced with red Xs, KRC’s infamous demolition signal. No court orders were presented, and no eviction notices were issued. Yet, by 4:00 AM Sunday, gates had been forcibly breached, operations paralysed, and a yellow bulldozer stood ready to destroy.
Kencont, a key logistics hub serving East African importers, hosts critical government agencies, including Customs, KEBS, and NTSA. The raid has thrown regional trade into disarray, jeopardised billions in goods in transit, and put hundreds of jobs at risk.
Even more damning is the state’s reliance on a title deed dated 30 April 2025, just days before the raid, to justify its actions. Kencont’s legal team has dismissed the document as dubious, maintaining that the land is leased from private landlords holding valid titles with up-to-date land rates.
“This is a reckless, high-handed move by the government,” said Eva Odongo, Kencont’s Legal Officer. “We have not been served with any legal notice. What we are witnessing is state-sponsored economic sabotage under the pretence of land recovery.”
The choice of a weekend raid, when courts are inaccessible, suggests a deliberate strategy to bypass judicial scrutiny. KRC Managing Director Philip Mainga has remained conspicuously silent, compounding suspicions that the operation lacked legal and ethical grounding.
Observers note that the land in question is linked to the family of the late President Daniel arap Moi, fuelling speculation that the raid may be politically motivated. If so, this is not just about land; it is about weaponising public institutions for political ends.
The Kenya Kwanza administration, which campaigned on promises of economic revival and adherence to the rule of law, now stands accused of undermining both. By allowing state agencies to operate as rogue enforcers, the government has shattered investor confidence and exposed businesses to arbitrary violence.
This brazen act is not land reclamation, it is a land grab. Not governance, but gangsterism in government uniform. Unless challenged, it sets a terrifying precedent for the rest of the country.
