Senate team summons Charity Ngilu, Mohamed Swazuri

Kenya: The Senate Lands Committee has summoned senior State officials over the alleged grabbing of public land in Nairobi County.

The committee expects Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, National Lands Commission (NLC) Chairman Muhammad Swazuri and National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) officials to appear before it next week.

Committee Chairman Lenny Kivuti (Embu) informed the House that the officers will be required to shed more light on the controversial ownership of the land situated at the Junction of Loresho Ridge Road and Kaptagat Road.

Mr Kivuti made the announcement while responding to a statement sought by Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura (Murang'a) on why the Government had allowed development to take place on the land, which houses Nairobi City County offices, and was reserved for a water reservoir by the defunct city council in the 1970s, when Loresho estate was being developed. Kivuti told the House that one Shital Bhandari owns the land in question but the senators sought further clarification on the matter.

Demolish structures

“We will summon the CS and Swazuri to get to the bottom of this matter and ask them to stop further works at the site,” he said. Mr Gitura demanded to know when the said land ceased being public.

“We must address this issue of land grabbers. The development on this piece of land should cease and ownership reverted to the public for its intended purpose,” he said.

“Who approved the building plans for personal development on public property? The CS should repossess the land and have the erected structures demolished," he added.

Mike Sonko (Nairobi) said construction materials are on site and demanded that the matter be suspended immediately.

“We have discussed this matter with many senators and it is of serious concern. The Ministry of Lands and NLC can order the stoppage as we address the concerns,” said Kivuti.