Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on Monday barred from making good on his threat to demolish the Marble Arch Hotel located in Nairobi's Central Business District.
Justice Samson Okong'o of the Environment and Land Court issued temporary orders preventing any action from the county government.
The Judge further directed the Nairobi OCPD to provide the premises with security and prevent interference until the case is heard.
The investor, Mike Maina moved to court to prevent the demolition following a heated altercation over the phone between the governor and the hotel owner.
Sonko accused Maina of using a fake title deed to procure an order to evict residents in Kayole.
He directed county bulldozers to bring down the toilets along with a pavement near Marble Arch Hotel, which according to Sonko, were built on land belonging to the county’s Fire Station.
Governor Sonko gave Marble Arch Hotel 14 days to vacate the premises.
In defence, Maina told journalists that the county government was out to harass and embarrass him.
He negated accusations that he had grabbed the land and proceeded to admit that the insults from the governor hurt him.
The demolition was an outright violation of the suspension that had earlier been issued by Head of Public Service.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the government has forthwith directed the immediate suspension of all demolitions of properties in all parts of the country until further notice," the notice read in part.
