One person killed, property destroyed and looted in violent eviction from Caxton House in Nairobi

NAIROBI: One person was Wednesday morning shot dead, several wounded and property destroyed in violent and dramatic eviction incident from Caxton House along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi.

Police say they arrested seven other people who had broken into shops at the house and stole valuables including electronic goods and cash. One of them was found with eight laptops that he had grabbed from the offices.

The house ownership is in dispute after its lease allegedly expired and new owners emerged.

The original owners- Sayani Limited- are based in London.

Sources said speculators had tried to change ownership of the house but the National Land Commission was to renew the lease Wednesday.

Chaos started at about 3 am when a gang arrived there with iron sheets and poles ready to fence off the building as others looted property.

They broke into shops including bank agents, photocopying shops, Mpesa shops, legal firms and cyber cafes and looted property. Even motorists who were driving by were invited to go and "help themselves with the goods", witnesses said.

It was after an hour later that police arrived and shot at the group as others escaped. A lorry with looted property managed to drive off as police shot at it towards Uhuru Highway in the drama.

A matatu carrying looted property was also detained at the Central police station. NLC deputy chair Abigael Mbagaya arrived at the scene minutes later and declared there was an attempted grabbing of the building by grabbers.

"The ownership of this building was in dispute and we were to renew the lease today (Wednesday) after holding final talks. This stealing of property and land must stop. Also those behind this destruction should be named and brought to book," said Mbagaya.

She revealed the owners of the house, which also houses Equity Bank Kenyatta Avenue branch, are based in London and they had complained of its attempted grabbing.

Sayani had apparently applied for the lease renewal in 2007 to the ministry of lands but the documents vanished then, after the owners had received the bill that was required to be settled to occasion the issuance of the title.

Other officials said some staff at the commission are under investigations after it emerged they had tried to assist the grabbers to change the ownership documents.

Police said an auctioneer had arrived with an order for restraining tenants from the building. Ironically, the order showed the prayers were made by Sayani, which Mbagaya said was questionable.

Police said they were looking for the auctioneers who were behind the incident. This was after the auctioneers decided to raid the premise without police escort.

"This is pure robbery and break in and not eviction as they claimed. We want to prefer charges to them because officers were waiting for him at the station without knowing they were already at the site," said Central OCPD Paul Wanjama.

Two weeks ago, a fire broke out on the top floor of the building, which other officials believe was part of attempts to force tenants to vacate. The fire was caused by a gas cylinder that exploded.