Artisans operating from Nairobi's Grogan area asked to move

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI, KENYA: Nearly 900 jua kali artisans operating from Grogan area, Nairobi have been asked to move out of the place following the expiry of a notice of vacation.

 Police too have urged motorists to stop taking their cars to the area for repairs ahead of the planned takeover by the owners. This follows an order issued by Justice Joyce Nyamweya that the 892 mechanics move out of the Sh2 billion land to enable The Jamia Masjidahl develop it.

Police and a spokesman of the Jamia Masjidahl confirmed the notice expired on Thursday and added it is a matter of time before the owners move there.  The mechanics were allocated 1.25 acres of land near the disputed one and asked to move there but some are yet to do so.

Notice expired

Yesterday, Nairobi Area police boss Benson Kibui said he is aware of the expiry of the notice and asked the mechanics and motorists to honour the court orders.  “It is important that even motorists stop bringing their cars there and the mechanics honour the orders. We hope it will be a smooth transfer,” said Kibui.

The Jamia Masjidahl (TJM) (registered trustees of the Jamia Mosque Committee) spokesman Mustafa Musa said they were ready for the take over and asked the mechanics to move out smoothly without confrontation, as had been witnessed in the past.

Another source said a police squad was on standby to effect the orders amid fears the exercise might turn out to be chaotic.

The mechanics, under Migingo Mechanics Self-Help Group, had been claiming the land while The Jamia Masjidahl said it bought it from Hussein Ahmedali Hebatualaa.

A past bid to take over the land led to bloody confrontation between the police and the mechanics that caused the death of two people and several injuries besides destruction of property.

 The artisans who had been occupying the disputed plot were seeking ownership of the land through adverse possession.

 They claimed they had been operating from the land since 1987 and should, therefore, be granted ownership. In their case, the artisans said they would suffer great damages and loss of livelihoods if the defendants were not stopped from interfering with the land.

However, the alleged owners of the plot want a court case filed by the traders dismissed. TJM, through lawyer Ahmnednasir Abdulahi, won the battle.

 The Jamia Foundation said they planned to put up a school and a mosque on the piece of land.