More property pulled down to make way for bypass

By Abigael Sum

Nairobi, Kenya: The ongoing demolition of buildings on road reserve meant for Nairobi’s Southern bypass continued Monday with more property being reduced to rubble.

Looters were still busy Monday rummaging for metal bars, iron sheets and stones from the rubble.

Tom Onyango, one of the house owners whose property was flattened, was at the site Monday to salvage some of his materials.

He said he was distraught over the demolition of his house which was near completion.

Mr Onyango said he legally acquired the land and the then City Council of Nairobi assured that the property was far from the road reserve.

“I was allotted the land in 1998 by the government through the Ngei River Bank Scheme and from then started the process of acquiring a title deed. If this portion of land is located on a road reserve, why was I given all the necessary documents to go ahead with construction? He posed.

He noted that they were never served with a notice to vacate.

However, Kenya National Highways Authority maintained that a notice was served about the impending demolition.

More premises along the bypass have been marked for demolition.

The demolition is concurrently going on with road construction.

The Southern bypass is expected to cost Sh17.5 billion and will connect Mombasa Road and Nairobi-Nakuru highway through Kikuyu.