Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has echoed his support for the ongoing demolitions where he promised to ensure that all properties built on water ways, road reserves and riparian land are demolished.
According to Governor Sonko the law should not be applied selectively. He also said that he is ready to lead by example stating that even his own property in Buru Buru, which has been built on a road reserve, will also be brought down.
In a statement the governor said, “Even myself, there is a land I bought in Buru Buru. About an acre of that land is part of road access and we shall start by demolishing that wall. It does not matter how well connected you are, if you have built on a road reserve or water ways, that structure has to go down.”
He further added saying that he is prepared to be a one-time governor who will leave a legacy than entertain grabbing of public land and utilities, stating that he is aware that his stand will make him an enemy of few rich people in Nairobi who include politicians and tycoons, but he is prepared to deal with them.
In addition to his statement, “I have been entrusted with the lives of over six million Kenyans. Let them (tycoons) hate me and say that I will be a one-term Governor, I will not allow impunity to thrive under my watch.”
He further vowed to reclaim all grabbed land and public utilities in the county warning that any county or National Environment Management Authority (Nema) officials who have conspired with grabbers to approve building plans on public utilities will also be prosecuted alongside the said suspected grabbers.
Other grabbed lands and utilities in Nairobi as listed by the Governor including the proposed land for Gigiri and Ruaraka fire stations, Highridge Hospital in parklands, new Muthaiga Thigiri Ridge County dispensary and nursery school, Pumwani Hospital expansion structures, Eastleigh county Market and wariro county market.
Others are Langata primary school land, St. Catherine primary school land, Buruburu Girls School land, Martin Luther primary school land, Kamkunji Secondary school land, Langata Secondary School land and the land reserved for South C market.
Governor Sonko said during the construction of Southern and Northern bypass, so many structures, including schools, churches, mosques and houses were brought down, therefore whatever is happening in Nairobi is for the better of the majority.
He stated that he was blamed for floods in Nairobi, but it was later established that people had built on sewer lines, rivers and riparian lands.
“If you remember the floods in Kariobangi, we found out someone had put up three buildings on sewer line,” said Sonko.
At the same time, the governor said that the county will put up modern markets, stalls and kiosks to accommodate traders in Nairobi who will be affected by ongoing demolitions.
“I have mobilized my MCA to take data of all affected traders and hawkers so that once we clean Nairobi, once it becomes the real City under the Sun. I will start a new strategy to do modern sheds, kiosks and market to accommodate them,” he said.
Just yesterday the county witnessed the demolition of South End Mall on Lang’ata Road.