Billionaire Manu Chandaria
After leaking a damning audio recording with Nairobi Women’s Representative, controversial Governor Mike Sonko has now picked a fight with businessman Dr Manu Chandaria.
Sonko has warned the multi-billionaire and philanthropist to keep off a piece of land occupied by squatters in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums or else face dire consequences.
According to the flamboyant governor, he had on numerous occasions asked Dr. Chandaria to seek for compensation from the national government as ordered by the court.
Sonko speaking at Nyayo Stadium
Speaking while distributing food to Muslim faithful from informal settlements across Nairobi at Nyayo National Stadium, Sonko said the Kenyan constitution allows squatters to claim ownership of land if they have lived on the land for more than 12 years.
Sonko promised to ensure that the squatters are given title deeds for the piece of land that has been at the centre of controversy between Dr. Chandaria and the locals.
“I want to warn Dr. Chandaria that l will not seat down and watch him frustrate the poor in the slums. If he wants to be compensated for the piece of land he should use the right channel,” Sonko said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta with businessmen Manu Chandaria and Chris Kirubi at a past event
Sonko added he has reached out to President Uhuru Kenyatta over the issue and the President has subsequently instructed the Ministry of Lands to ensure the residents are given title deeds of the land.
“l want to thank the President because when we approached him he directed that no one should be evicted from the piece of land because it belongs to the public,” Sonko added.
The Governor also revealed that a section of those behind land grabbing in Nairobi are planning to approach him to stop opposing the eviction of Mukuru Kwa Njenga residents from the land claimed by Dr. Chandaria.
A section of Mukuru kwa Njenga slums
Sonko warned land grabbers who are targeting churches and Mosques, noting that the Nairobi City County Government will work closely with the national government to ensure that all grounds occupied by religious organizations are issued with title deeds.
The Governor also challenged the Nairobi City County Assembly to come up with stringent laws to protect city residents from greedy and merciless land grabbers who are out to kick them out from their land.
“We have to protect those who stay in slums and to do this we need firm laws,” he said.
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In 2017, Kenyan taxpayers are were forced to pay a firm owned by relatives of industrialist Chandaria Sh19.9 billion as compensation for land that was illegally acquired and sub-divided by Land ministry officials.
High Court judge George Odunga ordered the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to honour a 2012 compensation to Orbit Chemicals, which was awarded Sh6 billion but the amount ballooned to Sh19.9 billion owing to interest that continues to accumulate on it until it is settled.
The company, which is owned by Dhiren, Ashok and Sachen, all relatives of Mr Chandaria, won compensation for the 95.2 acres in Embakasi, Nairobi after the High Court found that ministry officials had colluded to illegally take possession of and sub-divide it.