Nairobi Regional Commissioner (RC), Kangethe Thuku has ordered an immediate halt on illegal construction of buildings on the disputed Mowlem land in Nairobi’s Umoja III area.
While addressing a Barraza on the disputed land on Monday, Thuku promised to bring to an end the long lasting dispute on the land.
He noted that those involved in constructing illegal buildings at night not only lack permits but their safety is also not guaranteed. He warned that they will be arrested and the structures demolished.
Thuku said the government was committed to ensuring that there is law and order in the area, which has witnessed numerous land wrangles over its ownership.
He directed that the status quoin Mowlembe maintained as earlier declared by the National Lands Commission and that no new constructions should go on.
“Already in Huruma, we have about 400 buildings that we are trying to get money to bring down. So we do not want to be added more burden of marking other buildings which are not safe for occupation,” said Thuku.
He noted that his office had no mandate to evict people from their homes and that occupants of the land under dispute should remain there as they await the National Lands Commission’s final verdict on the ownership.
The RC appreciated efforts made by the National Land Commission in reclaiming both public and private land grabbed in Nairobi.
He appealed to the constitutional bodies mandated to handle land issues to move fast and clear uncertainties surrounding ownership of various land parcels in Nairobi.
“There is a committee in collaboration with other bodies that is dealing with the process of solving the issue of double and triple allocation and by the end of this month, we shall have prepared almost 30,000 title deeds ready to be issued out,” the RC said.
The RC, who was accompanied by the Nairobi Security team urged residents to aid the resolution process by reporting any person engaging in illegal construction to the relevant bodies.
This comes at a time when the government is making efforts to curb the construction of unapproved buildings similar to those that had previously collapsed and claimed lives of Kenyans.
By Bridgit Sande/Habel Shiloli
