ALERT! Government To Resume DEMOLITIONS Of ILLEGAL Structures

The demolition of buildings on riparian land, road reserves and public land will continue this week, the Nairobi Regeneration Committee has announced.This comes just days after the multi-agency task force heading the demolition exercise brought down the multi-million Grand Manor hotel located in Gigiri.

It was said the building posed a security risk to the diplomatic premises and that its construction had violated approval guidelines.

Nairobi River Regeneration Task Force operations Manager Julius Wanjau yesterday said the demolitions would head back to Kileleshwa where multi-million shilling apartments are targeted.“The demolition will continue and we are targeting buildings built on riparian in Kileleshwa Kubwa.

We will not stop until all illegal buildings are brought down,” said Mr Wanjau.He observed that owners of the buildings had already received notices from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).The operations manager emphasised that despite the exercise being slowed down by court orders, the team was adamant in reclaiming public land.

The task force had earlier revealed that there are approximately 4,000 buildings, structures and facilities on riparian or public land in Nairobi.Wanjau, however, complained about the attempted bribery incidents from developers who sought to grease his palms for him to turn a blind eye.

In one instance, he claimed, a developer had deposited Sh200,000 in his mobile money account but he returned it.“At times you wake up one morning and find hundreds of thousands on your phone as bribe money meant to convince you to spare the targeted illegal buildings.

If you are a man of strong values you will do the right thing and return the money so you can save the lives of Nairobi residents,” he added.On Thursday, the multi-million Grand Manor Hotel was reduced to rubble in compliance with a court order that ruled it was a security risk to the diplomatic premises and that its construction had violated approval guidelines.

The owner, Praful Kumar, told court at the time the notice for demolition was issued, he had spent Sh200 million, with the project being 75 per cent complete.The lavish establishment was situated opposite the US Embassy and the United Nations head offices. To its left is the High Commission of Botswana and on the right the Embassy of Morocco.

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