This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
On May 2019, Nairobi County Government askaris demolished Patrick Nderitu's auto garage, 'Pimp my Ride', in a prime location along Kenyatta Avenue and Buruburu estate, despite the tycoon having signed a five-year lease approved by the County Government.
The incident marked the beginning of a bitter feud between Nderitu and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who had previously clashed over a multi-million shillings land in Buruburu estate that Nderitu had acquired more than a year ago.
According to Nderitu, Sonko had threatened to demolish some of his properties, including the business that stood where Simmers was, after a confrontation at the Buruburu land.
Nderitu, 42, had opened 'Pimp My Ride' and a garage after forking out Sh80 million for the lease approved by Sonko before their spat.
Close friends in the know say the bad blood between governor Sonko and Nderitu, his one-time friend, is rooted in Nderitu's dizzying fortunes, with Nderitu reportedly being more liquid than Sonko.
The rivalry between the two men seems to have sprung in the matatu business, where Nderitu had an upper hand in operating the most souped up matatus on the Buruburu route in Nairobi, where Sonko was making forays.
