Githurai residents lose millions of shillings in demolition

An excavator demolishes a building at Githurai in Nairobi on April 16, 2019. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Bulldozers continued to flatten buildings in Nairobi’s Githurai 45 to reclaim 250-acre public land.

On day two of the operation that started on Monday, police officers lobbed teargas canisters at a crowd that had a field day looting property from the destroyed business premises.

A three-storey building, a car bazaar and a garage were among properties affected by the demolition carried out under heavy security.

A security official said at least 30 vehicles might have been lost to looters who towed them away.

The owner of a garage in the area said he lost vehicles brought by clients for repair.

“I could not salvage anything. They just crashed down my garage. Don’t ask me questions, I have lost everything. The loss is in millions because the bulldozers flattened my business premises,” he retorted.

Some youths on looting spree clashed with police officers at demolition site.

Some businessmen who lost their properties claimed that they were not given any notice prior to the demolition.

A security source said the Government was getting rid of substandard buildings which had not been approved.

“They are targeting all buildings on 250 acres within the area that is considered a public land,” claimed the source.        

Another source revealed that the buildings had been built on land initially set aside for the Zimmerman Settlement Scheme.

A resident, Mercy Wangeci, who owns land in the area said she bought the property from Zimmerman Settlement Scheme.