Buildings on public land to be collapsed

A house belonging to senior National government official being demolished in Kisumu after on November 6, 2020 for failing to comply with court orders. [Collins Oduor, Standard]  

Owners of buildings on road reserves in Kisumu have one month to remove them or they will be demolished.

"We have mapped out areas reserved for public parks and road reserves. Unfortunately, some public land have illegal structures which makes it hard for us to use them as planned," Acting City Manager Abala Wanga said yesterday.

Wanga spoke at Anderson Ofafa Estate where Governor Anyang' Nyong'o launched an affordable houses project that will cost Sh3 billion.

Some of the buildings targeted for demolition are those erected on riparian land on the shores of Lake Victoria and swamps.

Abala also said the government was keen on recovering public land illegally allocated or sold by corrupt officials. He said they want to get the city in order ahead of the Africities conference slated for November next year.

Nyong'o observed that some development projects have been delayed because of the illegal structures.

"Things have been made difficult by corrupt officials. But now, we want to ensure proper planning so development projects can be realised,” Nyong'o said.

Lands Executive Dixon Obungu said those who built on riparian land and whose structures will be demolished will get no compensation.