This week, Kenyans have learnt a new word, riparian. First, let us dissect its meaning.
Riparian means ‘relating to or situated on the banks of a river’ and that in itself explains why buildings found in such areas were demolished this week.
Netizens are an active lot and despite the massive losses suffered by owners of the demolished buildings, they found some humour in all this.
Here are some of the humorous tweets:
Overseas ???????? ????????#Riparian pic.twitter.com/wzbbSgFT7n
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— Karismemes ???????? (@Karismemes) August 10, 2018
Workhorse Ngolo Kante is on 120k a week. Pogba is demanding to be put at par with Sanchez or he leaves the club on Riparian land. Maajabu @ahmednasirlaw— Mohamed Wehliye (@WehliyeMohamed) August 8, 2018
I wish you all a riparian weekend, but don't demolish anything if you are not sure it's safe.#RiparianWeekend— Joshua K. Njenga (@JKNjenga) August 10, 2018
I have received many requests for opinion on riparian land. Look! It got nothing to do with primary schools’ land.— Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) August 8, 2018
I don't see why NEMA are fighting this war right now. Wangoje tu rainy season, when Ukay and other buildings on the riparian zones are flooding, then just check in and say "the rivers are asking for their paths back".
Hakuna argument at that time. pic.twitter.com/i56PQXPETe— Asterix (@SuaveNilote) August 9, 2018
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday asked responsible state agencies to prosecute all government officials found culpable for allocating riparian and public utility land to private developers.Do we have babies named Riparian yet? ????— mi si mrembo, ni filters. (@Ninanyce) August 11, 2018
At the same time, President Kenyatta supported the ongoing demolition of structures illegally erected on riparian and public utility land saying this is part of the proactive efforts by his administration to decisively deal with runaway corruption in the country.
‘We must discourage corruption and encourage county governments to demolish properties on riparian land,” said President Kenyatta.
He added: “We shall go after all those who issued the illegal permits, be they County or National Government officials.
All those who gave these permits will be prosecuted.” President Kenyatta was speaking when he officially inaugurated Prism Towers in Upper Hill which is the newest skyscraper in Nairobi.