Seefar Apartments residents can calm down for now after the latest developments with regards to the demolition of the apartments. The residents of the Apartments have gotten support from an unlikely source, the Members of Parliament.
After visiting the said encroached area on a fact finding mission last month, a section of MPs now want the dam near Seefar Apartments at Highrise Estate along Mbagathi Way destroyed in a bid to save the residential buildings.
The legislators, led by Kipkellion West MP Hillary Kosgey and his Mathioya counterpart Peter Kihara said that the dam, which is now a sewer will affect many households health wise and not just those residing at Seefar Apartments.
This comes after the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) in conjunction with the National Environmental Management Authority National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) issued a 30-day demolition notice saying the property was on the riparian land of both Nairobi Dam and Ngong River.
On his part, Environment Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mohammed Elmi maintained that the dam, as it stands now is a health hazard and dangerous.
NEMA insists that the owners and residents of the 288-unit property should vacate arguing that if the rains come, the dam will burst and lives will be lost.
“Our position on this issue in 2011 and today has not changed. If the developer had complied with conditions, we would not be here,” said NEMA Director General Geoffrey Wahungu.
On their part, WARMA accused Edermann Property, the developer, of interfering with the embankment during the construction of the apartment.
“The truth is the people there are in danger, we do not want a case of Solai in Langata… the dam is even higher than the Seefar apartments,” said WARMA.
The residents have however rubbished the claims stating that NEMA has not conducted any investigations concerning the houses.
They even marched to the offices of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) demanding for a comprehensive report on the alleged encroachment of Nairobi Dam.
Should the Seefar apartments be spared from demolitions?