State should exercise caution on demolitions

The war against Al Shabaab militants in Somalia has definitely raised homeland security concerns and going by the number of explosion attacks in Mandera and Garissa, the security agencies need to improve surveillance.

Any terrorist attack within Nairobi would be a major score for the rag-tag Al Shabaab militants who are under siege.

However, the recent demolition of private property on the flight paths at Wilson and Jomo Kenyatta International airports and the Eastleigh Airbase is wrong.

In Syokimau, the owners of the affected property were conned into buying land and got title deeds from Government after the publication of a notice in the Kenya Gazette following the forgery of the signature of the Minister for Lands.

That more buildings in Eastleigh have been marked for demolition, most of them without prior notice to the owners, is a violation of the law.

These buildings were put up with full approval of the city council on land with genuine title deeds. And yet these buildings, if they pose risks, can be brought down within the law of the land.

The overwhelming support by citizens on Operation Linda Nchi should not be dampened by irresponsible actions.

Respect for private property is one of the pinnacles of free economies and it is this that spurs entrepreneurship.

Whenever this right is violated, investors hold back capital.

If the Government does not tread carefully on these demolitions, it could be left with egg on the face.