Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced the decision to demolish the Sh250 million Green Park Terminus, constructed by the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).

The move aims to transform the prime land into a world-class conference centre, attracting investors and positioning Nairobi as a global capital.

In a recent interview on a local TV station, Governor Sakaja expressed his dissatisfaction with the terminus.

"It is the most prime land in the whole of East Africa. It was not supposed to be a bus terminus. All the trials that have been carried out have failed due to the human mass passing and the matatus," Sakaja said.

"For the long-distance vehicles, it looked like it would work and it was working until there was interference, and so we said (we'll) leave that."

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Sakaja further revealed that numerous investors had already expressed interest in utilizing the land for hotel and conference facilities.

Seeking to emulate the success of the Kigali Conference Center, he emphasized Nairobi's aspiration to become a global capital.

According to the governor, approvals have been granted for an expressway exit into the CBD, enabling conference attendees to reach the facilities within five minutes of arriving at the airport.

Sakaja also highlighted the intention to foster a private-public partnership to facilitate this ambitious project.

I have already approved the exit of the expressway into the CBD. You just get from the airport (and) within five minutes you are at a conference centre that has amenities. We are going to have a private-public partnership,” Sakaja said.

The decision to demolish the Green Park Terminus follows a failed attempt to compel long-distance matatus to operate from the site.

Matatu operators had voiced grievances of discrimination, leading to legal action against the county government.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also publicly opposed the directive, even threatening to impeach Governor Sakaja for allegedly targeting Mount Kenya operators.

Commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the bus terminal boasts several facilities, including a Level 2 hospital, a police station, and a restaurant.

However, various urban planning experts have identified planning flaws that contributed to the project's failure.

These missteps encompassed the selection of an inappropriate location and conflicts with neighbouring areas.

Additionally, the small size of the terminus posed challenges in accommodating a large number of matatus effectively.

Complicating matters, a contractor involved in the project has claimed outstanding payments of more than Sh50 million for the construction and equipment of the terminus, adding to the project's troubled history.