Kiambu County on the spot over demolitions as locals claim of plan to grab land

Paul Mwangi shows a house that was allegedly demolished by county government officials. [photo:Kamau Maichuhie]

Kiambu county government is on the spot for demolishing houses at Ali Juja estate.

It has also emerged that some of the demolished houses had approved building plans from the county.

The residents of the estate were Saturday morning woken up by earth-movers pulling down the houses as police officers watched.

Officers lobbed tear-gas canisters at the locals protesting the move.

Several people were injured in the ensuing mayhem and were rushed to hospital.

By the time area MP Francis Waititu came to the rescue of the residents, much damage had already been done.

The Juja MP stopped the demolitions until proper consultations are done between the locals and the county government. Before his intervention, 10 houses had already been reduced to rubble.

The county officials overseeing the exercise who spoke to The Standard said they were puling down houses that lacked approved building plans.

However, residents who spoke to The Standard wondered why the county was demolishing even houses whose owners had approved architectural and structural plans issued by the same office.

“This is very unfair. We need to know what is going on since some of us have approved plans and title deeds, yet our houses have been demolished,” said Titus Ndung’u, a victim.

He alleged a plan by a section of influential individuals whom he declined to name, to take over the 250 acres, adding that they were using the county government to achieve their goal.

Paul Mwangi, whose house was demolished, said he had so far spent Sh1.2 million in putting up the house.

He vowed to institute legal proceedings against the county government for compensation.

“I took a loan to buy the plot and build the house for my family.

“It is so hurting that it has now been reduced to rubble even after obtaining all the requisite documents,” said Mr Mwangi.

Some residents who had no approved plans raised an accusing finger at the county government for refusing to approve their building plans despite spirited efforts seeking them.

“I have gone to the county offices for more than three times seeking to have my building plan approved, but to no avail. They have flatly refused to approve them without giving us the reasons.

“We feel there is more than meets the eye concerning this land,” said Eunice Njeri, whose Sh600, 000 house was demolished.

However, Land and Housing Executive David Gatimu exonerated the county government, saying houses with requisite building plans were not touched.

He said the county only brought down houses that had no approved building plans from the Department of Physical Planning.

He said the county had issued locals with a vacate notice prior to the demolition, which they ignored.