Mike Sonko halts demolitions after Uhuru Kenyatta call
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| Residents watch in disbelief as excavators demolish apartments at Nyama Villa estate in Kayole, Nairobi on December 18, 2018. The demolitions are carried out on houses sitting on a disputed 20-acre piece of land. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP |
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has halted demolition of buildings in the country, including those built on disputed parcels of land.
Mr Sonko issued the orders on Thursday after a phone call with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He met at City Hall with families whose houses have been demolished recently, including owners of homes demolished in Nyama Villa estate in Kayole.
Some of the houses set for demolition are built on land reserved for roads and Kenya Power electricity lines.
FESTIVE SEASON
“I have today declared that no more buildings will be demolished until after the festive season is over. We cannot make families in Nairobi homeless during the festive season when everyone is expecting us to give them peace and a conducive environment for the holidays,” said Mr Sonko.
One of the victims displaced by the demolitions, Mr David Nyagah has accused private developers of hiding behind the courts to displace land owners from their properties where they have stayed for over 20 years.
“Governor we are appealing to you to get us a temporary place us we challenge the court order that allowed them to demolish our houses. Please seek the intervention of the President to allow us and our families enjoy the festive season,” said Mr Nyagah.
Mr Sonko later toured Kayole area where he forced out bulldozers hired by private developers to bring down houses on the disputed land.
He was accompanied by Nairobi County Assembly leader of majority Abdi Guyo and several other ward representatives.
‘HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS’
“I know the courts approved the demolitions but on grounds of humanity we cannot torture our fellow citizens especially during this festive season. This matter should be done in a humane way and in accordance with the law,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, the City Hall boss and President Kenyatta are on Friday expected to launch construction of low-cost houses in Pangani.
The national government is planning to build 500,000 affordable housing units across the country, while the Nairobi County government is set to put up 200,000 of its own.
The project is scheduled to run until 2022 and it’s expected to offer low income earners in Nairobi an opportunity to own houses and give informal settlements a facelift.

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