Sakaja Says Njiru Houses Will Not Be Demolished After Talks With Kirima Family
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has guaranteed occupants of the contested Njiru land that their belongings won’t face demolition.
Sakaja has alleviated concerns by stating that discussions have been in progress with the Kirima family, who are the rightful property owners, to avoid the destruction of houses.
“It is just that the government cannot buy the land. But the Kirima family is willing to negotiate with the families so they can pay slowly,” Sakaja stated in an interview on Radio Citizen.
The governor highlighted a joint initiative involving both the county and national government aimed at averting demolitions after court-mandated evictions from the 1000-acre property formerly owned by the late Gerishon Kirima.
“We will agree as to who pays for the land, is it us, or the families? But demolition is not an option. I do not want people to go for Christmas worried that their property will be destroyed,” he said.
” I know the order said on 31st Dec. We will not allow that. There has to be a better way,” Sakaja declared, aligning his sentiments with his signature slogan, ‘lazima iwork.’
Sakaja warned against turning the matter into a political issue, emphasizing its nature as a legal concern.
“Those politicizing the land row are making it worse. This is a legal issue, and politics have no hand in the matter,” he asserted.
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The inhabitants of Njiru, Chokaa, and Mihang’o regions in Nairobi are greatly troubled due to a ruling from the Environment and Land Court, which mandates their evacuation from nearly 1,000 acres of land belonging to a deceased politician who passed away in December 2010.
According to Justice S. Okong’o’s ruling, individuals currently residing on the land must leave or face eviction from the Kirima Estate administrators by December 31, 2023.
The ruling marked the end of an extended legal dispute between the administrators and occupants who gained ownership of the land via self-help organizations.
Lands Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome stated on November 21 that the government would not intervene in the land conflict between the Kirima family and the residents of Njiru.
Speaking to the press at her Nairobi office, Wahome affirmed that the court’s decision regarding the East Riverside Drive in Njiru, granting residents time until December 31, is conclusive. She emphasized that land records have confirmed the continued ownership of the title by the Kirima family.
The Chief Secretary has previously stated that the government wouldn’t intervene in the conflict to prevent potential resident evictions. Instead, they encouraged the settlers to engage in discussions with the Kirima family or comply with the court order for departure.
Sakaja Says Njiru Houses Will Not Be Demolished After Talks With Kirima Family