The government has closed down Capitol Hill Police Station with immediate effect. The move is part of a bigger plan by the Parliamentary Service Commission to expand its control over buildings near Parliament.
According to insiders, Parliament wants to bring more properties around Parliament Buildings under one umbrella. This includes the current St John Ambulance headquarters, whose Nairobi office is located opposite Bunge Tower.
To make way for the expansion, St John Ambulance and the Kenya Scouts Association will be relocated to a two-acre piece of land in Upper Hill. The land is valued at about Sh1 billion. The two organizations now plan to build a shared operations center there.
More than 50 police officers who were based at Capitol Hill Police Station have been redeployed to Kilimani Police Station, Kibra Police Station, and Central Police Station.
Authorities are also moving case files, exhibits, and all impounded vehicles that were kept at the station. Members of the public who have cash bail pending at the facility have been urged to collect it as soon as possible before the money is sent to the National Treasury.