Kenyans have flooded social media cycles to demand for the demolition of Taj mall which is located along Outering Road in Embakasi.
Located at the intersection of Outer Ring Road, North Airport Road and Airport South Road, Taj Mall had been the subject of controversy since 2012. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) had said part of the building sits on a road reserve and marked it for demolition to pave way for Outer Ring Road expansion. After the owner, Rameshchandra Gorasia, threatened to sue the government for compensation, KURA revealed that it had redesigned the eastern bypass to circumvent the building. The mall has now been renamed Airgate Centre.
But Kenyans have raised their voice about the building especially after the demolition of Southend Mall in Lang’ata. Southend mall was destroyed on Wednesday morning by a Multi-agency government team led by NEMA.
The Ksh 1 billion building owned by former Bobasi MP Stephen Manoti is said to be sitting on Riparian land. The building has been blamed for causing flooding in South C, Nairobi West and the entire Lang’ata area. Locals complained that the five-storey property obstructed the flow of Mutuini-Ngong river causing flooding during rainy season.
This former Taj mall should be next, standing on the middle of the road and being renovated with “IMPUNITY”#SouthendMall#langata pic.twitter.com/vRw4fq2VhQ
— FRANCIS MUREITHI (@FRANCISMUREIT12) August 8, 2018
It has also been revealed that the building was earmarked for destruction in 2016 but the owner ran to court after being served with the demolition notice and restrained the county from interfering with but it seems his 40th day arrived on Wednesday morning as the tenants lost property worth millions.
But now Kenyans want the government to go for other property sitting on road reserves or riparian land.
Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi demanded that the government demolishes Taj Mall, Standard Group building and Sameer business park along Mombasa road.
Southend Mall on Lang’ata road opposite TMall being demolished by NEMA. But we want Taj Mall down! We want Standard Media Group and Sameer Business Park down! We want Kahama Hotel down! We want Naivas OuterRing down! pic.twitter.com/p06e6ZoOp8
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@AtNyakundi) August 8, 2018
Taj mall inconveniences thousands of people who use Outering road every morning as it slows down traffic in the area. Motorists and pedestrians using the newly built Outering Road are walking on tenterhooks following rising incidences of muggings and carjacking near the Mall.
It also been established that armed thugs have turned the tunnels under the roundabout into hideouts from where they attack unsuspecting motorists and those on foot. The attacks are often carried out in the heart of the night when the place is deserted.
The spot is also known to flood during the rainy season because of poor drainage. Motorists driving relatively small cars often get stuck in the waters, leaving them exposed to the attackers who are always lying in wait-and dangerous.
“Taj Mall”this should the next stop after southend mall…… fairness should reign… southend mall pic.twitter.com/rK3dQfLb1e
— Elijah Okemwa (@elijah1334) August 8, 2018
The area, according to a resident, hides tens of armed robbers who attack motorist. He says most of the drivers slow down in the area as they make the U-turn unaware that the thugs are waiting in the dark alleys.