A whistleblower has ignited controversy after alleging that the historic Jamhuri Showground in Nairobi has been secretly leased to a Chinese company under questionable circumstances. The claims suggest that the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK), which manages the land, entered into a more than 50-year lease agreement with China Plaza Group, in what the whistleblower describes as a silent land grab disguised as a modernization initiative.
According to the revelations, heavy construction machinery has recently been spotted on the grounds, which have reportedly been fenced off from the public. Insider sources allege that Zenith Spatial Planning Ltd was contracted to handle the planning approvals and has been pushing to complete public participation within a single day—an apparent attempt to minimize scrutiny. Documents circulating among investigators allegedly link a controversial businessman, previously associated with disputed land transactions, and a Nairobi land registrar said to have a stake in the Chinese firm. The whistleblower further accuses senior officials from the Ministry of Lands, Nairobi County, and ASK of colluding to fast-track the deal before it becomes public knowledge.
The alleged plan aims to convert the Jamhuri Showground into a mixed-use commercial complex, effectively privatizing one of Kenya’s most symbolic public venues. For decades, the showground has hosted agricultural exhibitions and events central to Kenya’s farming community. Critics warn that if the deal is confirmed, it would signal a worrying pattern of public land being handed over to private and foreign investors without adequate consultation or parliamentary approval. The whistleblower, who claims to have received threats for exposing the matter, vowed to continue pursuing accountability: Once public land is gone, it’s gone forever, they said. As of now, authorities and ASK officials have not issued any public statement regarding the allegations.