President William Ruto has ordered the immediate return of the contested Baba Dogo playground to the public, firmly declaring that the field belongs to the residents of Nairobi’s Lucky Summer area and not to any private individual or company.
Speaking on Thursday, July 17, 2025, during a charged public address in Baba Dogo, the President issued a bold, impromptu directive — calling out anyone laying claim to the field and commanding police officers stationed there to vacate immediately.
“Is it true or not true? Is there someone who wants to take your playing ground here?” Ruto asked the crowd.
“Tell that person ‘mambo ni matatu’. He should prepare, because he will meet me. Let him leave the people’s land alone.”
Amid loud cheers, the President continued:
“I hear there are police at the field. I order them to get out of that field because that field is the people’s property. Not tomorrow — they should leave now.”
He further committed to supporting the development of the playground, promising to return and help upgrade the space for the youth.
“We will come to build on that land. I will come to help you build a proper field for the youth here,” he said, reaffirming the public’s ownership of the land.
A Long-Running Land Dispute
The presidential order brings temporary relief to an emotionally charged land dispute that has raged for months. The contested plot — officially known as Land Reference Number 336/109 — has long served as a public playground, used for football matches, community events, and youth engagement in the area.
However, the site has also been claimed by Kenafric Group, which asserts that it legally acquired the land in 1996, extended its lease in 2004, and transferred the title to Kenafric Properties Ltd in 2014. The company cites a favorable ruling in Environment and Land Court Case ELCE093 of 2023, which it says upheld its ownership.
Despite this, residents have long treated the land as public space. In June 2025, tensions boiled over when police officers reportedly acting on Kenafric’s behalf arrived to enforce the ownership claim. Demolitions followed, sparking community outrage, protests, and a call for court intervention.
Presidential Directive vs. Legal Ruling
President Ruto’s intervention, though politically popular, now sets up a potential legal showdown. While his administration may move to protect the public interest and invest in the site’s development, the court’s prior ruling could complicate enforcement.
The National Lands Commission (NLC), Nairobi County Government, and the Environment and Land Court are expected to weigh in following the President’s remarks. Legal experts say the state may either challenge the existing court ruling, seek to compulsorily acquire the land, or negotiate a buy-back to resolve the impasse.
