Dozens of city home owners may be rendered homeless by Christmas after their houses were earmarked for demolition.
The owners of the houses built in Buruburu Farmers Land, Njiru, Mowlem and Saika have until December 24 to vacate or face demolition by Kenya Power. Kenya Power says the houses are illegal, as they stand on power line reserves. The houses are among thousands of constructions Kenya Power says are illegally built on a 100 Km stretch reserve known as a way-leave that stretches 5,300 Km countrywide.
In March, the power company launched an operation dubbed Ondokea Laini, seeking to reclaim encroached land. It says 15,250 unsafe structures, particularly in informal settlements, have been cleared in Nairobi.At least 10,000 such structures extending 6km have been removed in Imara Daima, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben and Sinai village.
Other areas mapped include Umoja Phase 1, Inner Core, Tena, Embakasi Baraka Estate to Tassia Estate, Mathare Valley slums, Industrial Area in Nakuru and Mazeras and Bangladesh in Mombasa.
At a meeting bringing together close to 30 homeowners in Buruburu Farmers Land, the property owners expressed fear to The Standard over the notice, given their tract of land has been controversy-ridden since they settled in it.
One of the home owners, who bought a plot there in 2016, said Kenya Power had compensated the original owners (Buruburu Farmers Land) in the late 1970’s. The home owner added that Kenya Power later “donated” the land to Buruburu Youth Settlement Scheme in 2008, which subdivided and sold pieces to those who are now facing eviction. Kenya Power has denied “donating” any land.
A 60 by 40 plot in the location goes for about Sh 500,000.
Most of the home owners, including the youth group that sold them chunks of land, argued that the notice by Kenya Power was fake, highlighting the confusion that has rocked the demolition orders.
The residents say they have been harassed at least three times this year by “goons” who want them to vacate. However, Kenya Power authenticated the notice and denied hiring goons to vacate anyone, saying it only “hired casuals” as the area was prone to criminal gangs.
The residents say the notice is wrongly addressed as it mentions Mowlem and Saika areas in Dandora. They are concerned that it is not stamped.
The notice warns of encroachment on the 220k and 132kv power line in Nairobi.
[Article source: The Standard, by Wainaina Wambu]
