Stop illegal eviction of homeowners in the city

Avani Shah at her demolished Spring Valley home, Tuesday, November 8, 2022. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Niraj Shah and his family have owned and lived in their home in Nairobi's Spring Valley estate for the last 20 years. However, men in the name of auctioneers broke into the one-acre home and literally brought it down.

Such evictions have been carried out, especially in Nairobi, for some time now. The narrative has always been the same. A property owner's lease is about to expire he or she attempts to get it renewed before that is done men claiming to be auctioneers descend. The Shahs are in court hoping to get justice. Mr Zacharia Barasa is behind bars as detectives unravel what could have taken place.

The Shahs say they obtained a court order to stop any eviction but Barasa claims he too obtained an order from the same court to proceed with the exercise. Let justice take its course, However, cases of lease hunters taking peoples properties in the city are getting out of hand. Cartels, conniving with Ministry of Lands officials, have taken over scores of properties from helpless individuals. It is time to put an end to all this.

If the Shahs had indeed sold the property as claimed by the auctioneers, there are humane ways of evicting people. The manner in which this and many others have been done suggests that something is not right. It is time to protect property owners in the city and the country.

The law is clear on lease renewals. Anyone who illegally take over other people's property must be brought to justice. Court orders must be obeyed. Those thinking they are a law unto themselves must be taught a hard lesson on civility and rule of law.

The police officers who are said to always look the other way as thugs harass homeowners must also face the full force of the law. Gone are the days of jungle law where might was right.

If the eviction of the Shahs was done illegally, anyone found culpable should be charged and pushed to construct the house and repair the damaged property. These incidents have gone on for too long. It is time to act.