Kiambu Governor William Kabogo stops construction on 10-acre plot

Kiambu Governor speaking with Madaraka primary administrator Sister Rosemary Ngumu at the school yesterday.The governor joined parents who stormed the school to protest against the privatization of the school.He called on the Ministry of Education to revert it back to the public.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE

Governor William Kabogo has stopped a private developer from undertaking any further construction in a 10-acre piece of land in Umoja estate in Thika until an ownership dispute is resolved.

Mr Kabogo said the plot, which belongs to a group of residents, had been grabbed by some individuals with the help of corrupt officials at the Thika land registry.

The plot has been at the centre of a protracted dispute pitting a private developer against plot owners, with both sides maintaining they have documents to prove ownership of the land.

Speaking when he toured the disputed piece of land yesterday, Kabogo said he will do everything in his powers to ensure the land was reverted to the community.

 "I will ensure the land is reverted to you. All those who played a role in the grabbing of the community land will also face the full force of law," said Kabogo.

He said the county government would not approve any construction on the piece of land until the landlords were given back their land.

The governor put land grabbers in the county on notice, saying it is a matter of time before the long arm of the law catches up with them.

Yesterday, the private developer and the contractor took off when they saw the governor and his delegation approaching the site.

Left homeless

More than 100 families in the estate were left homeless and property worth millions of shillings destroyed after their homes were demolished a few weeks ago.

The demolition took place at 4am under the supervision of more than 100 heavily armed police officers and over 300 hired youth.

During the incident, several people, including the area Ward Representative Mwangi Wa Mwangi, were injured and others allegedly robbed of their valuables by the hired youth.

The plot owners said they were happy with the governor's directive and called on him to ensure the land was reverted back to them.

They claimed they were allocated the plots by the defunct Thika Municipality Council in 1985 after being transferred from Madharau slum by the Government.

Timothy Muiruri, whose rental house was pulled down during the demolitions, said they incurred huge losses as they depend on the houses for their livelihood.

"Many of us used our savings and even loans to develop the plots that wererecently reduced to rubble. We have lost our source of livelihood. We have all documents to prove ownership," Muiruri said.