State to Demolish Umoja Houses for Planning Violations

Authorities are set to demolish several houses in the high-density Umoja estate in Nairobi over planning violations that have resulted in the encroachment of Mutindwa-Kifaru Road.

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), which is upgrading the motorway, has asked owners of 20 plots in the estate to demolish structures that have encroached on the road reserve failing which the agency will dismantle them at owners’ cost after March 30.

“Your enumerated plots above are located at the centre of Mutindwa-Kifaru Road which is part of project roads,” read a notice signed by Kura’s director for legal services Peter Bosire.

“The road reserve for this section is 18m as per the approved and authenticated survey plans while the available corridor on the ground is only 9m wide. Your properties are encroaching on 9m of the road reserve,” the notice said, asking the intruders to vacate by the end of the month.

Commenced the earthworks

Kura said the contractor was clearing the site, having already commenced earthworks at some sections in readiness for the construction of the main roadway, side drains, and walkways.

“Given the above, and to avoid any delay and inconvenience to the ongoing project, you are required to have surrendered the encroached portions of the road reserve of Mutindwa-Kifaru Road as at the close of business on [March 29],” the notice said.  

One of the affected landowners said he bought the property from a broker and will not demolish the condemned building as it would be “too painful for him to watch his asset crushing before his eyes”.

“It is not our fault. We are just innocent buyers,” he told CK on Thursday.

However, Kura said the affected landlords were unable to prove ownership of the property.

“We asked the owners to provide proof of purchase or their title deeds, but no one had any. These buildings cannot even be found on the maps from the Survey of Kenya,” said Mr Bosire.

Nairobi has seen a construction boom in the past two decades and developers have often tried to maximise their plots by flouting city planning guidelines – sometimes with the help of dishonest land officials – leading to widespread encroachment of road reserves.

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