Churches flattened for 1,000 state housing units

A national housing project in the Makeji area of Murang'a county has faced resistance from locals after a contractor demolished churches to make way for the houses.

On Saturday, residents protested the demolition of two churches on the site designated for the construction of over 1,000 housing units.

In response to the destruction, Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata intervened to calm the situation and urged the parties to initiate dialogue.

The residents said the contractors demolished Bethewel Church and Israel Pentecost Church. In the aftermath of the protests, they left one building without a roof.

Samuel Karanja, a resident, said the land earmarked for the housing programme had plots allocated to residents by the now-defunct County Council of Maragua in 1996. He criticised the contractor for entering the site and destroying churches.

"We support the housing project, but there needs to be order. It is ungodly to demolish a worship center," said Karanja. 

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Maria Wanjiru, a resident in the Muruka location, said there is a need for a dialogue to ensure the rights of the locals are respected.