Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi was apprehended by police on Tuesday morning. According to sources, the legislator was arrested moments after arriving at Nyama Villa estate in Kayole where demolitions had begun.
Embakasi Central Member of Parliament Benjamin Gathiru was arrested on Tuesday morning after he attempted to stop county representatives from demolishing structures in Kayole.
The legislators was seized at the site which is claimed to be part of Kenya Power’s way-leave land.
Demolition bulldozers had already descended on a building near the famous Nyama Villa Club around the Masimba bus stage when the MP begun to interrupt
The MP reportedly demanded an eviction notice after residents complained that they had not been served to vacate. Other reports, however, indicated that the landlords had received the demolition notice but failed to inform their tenants.
A private developer is allegedly behind the demolition in a bid to reclaim 20 hectares of his land which had been grabbed.
The residents rushed to salvage their belongings including sofa sets, suitcases, beds and other household items from the premises. Electricity had reportedly been disconnected in the neighborhood as early as 4am to facilitate the demolitions.
Heavy police presence was also witnessed at the scene and along the routes used by the excavators in particular Spine Road.
The demolition come at a time when authorities have renewed their resolve to deal with illegal buildings. One of the controversial properties has been Seefar Apartments in Highrise with NEMA and Warma maintaining that they have encroached on Nairobi Dam.
The county operatives demolished a residential building which still had tenants inside in the early morning incident.
The residents were seen trying to salvage what was left of their houses and loading them onto pull carts that were helping them move.
The legislator had previously demanded a formal eviction notice to be sent to him before the exercise took place.
It was also purported that the demolished building was standing on 20 hectares of land belonging to a private developer.