Prime Place Restaurant, which is claimed to be owned by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, near Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi is among structures under demolition over encroachment onto Kenya Railways land reserve.
Kenyans have come out to laud the demolition but some were furious that Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel despite him acknowledging that it was built on illegal land.
While speaking to BBC HARDtalk show host Stephen Sackur, Dr. Ruto, had revealed that he was not aware that the original owner of the land where Weston Hotel stands was fraudulently acquired.
“Not bought illegally. In fact, for the record, the National Land Commission has made a finding that Weston was an innocent purchaser for value from somebody who got it illegally, and preparations have been made constitutionally to restore that land to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority by demanding that those who sold the land to us must pay,” DP Ruto said.
Here are some of the reactions from Kenyans.
@pauliddiali tweet reads, “So Prime Place Restaurant near Nyayo Stadium is currently being demolished bt funny enough even tho the owner of Weston hotel went on record n stated the land his property sits was illegally acquired bt is still standing tall is double standards of the highest order. Tunachezwa! ”
So Prime Place Restaurant near Nyayo Stadium is currently being demolished bt funny enough even tho the owner of Weston hotel went on record n stated the land his property sits was illegally acquired bt is still standing tall is double standards of the highest order.
Tunachezwa! pic.twitter.com/9xMoUqRslk— ping pong official 🇰🇪 (@pauliddiali) February 15, 2019
Activist Boniface Mwangi also celebrated the demolition. Through his twitter account moments after the structure was brought down, the former Starehe Member of Parliament aspirant, laid down various pleas to government officials.
“Finally the illegal structure at Nyayo Stadium have come down. @FredMatiangi @ODPP_KE @EACCKenya you need to prosecute the people who grab public spaces. @MikeSonko you need to fire the county officials who gave approvals for the structures to be built,” his tweet reads.
Finally the illegal structure at Nyayo Stadium have come down. @FredMatiangi @ODPP_KE @EACCKenya you need to prosecute the people who grab public spaces. @MikeSonko you need to fire the county officials who gave approvals for the structures to be built. https://t.co/I8g5LjAmPt
— Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) February 15, 2019
@AdipoetryKE said, “Weston Hotel is built on public land. It should be demolished. SANY should proceed there after bringing down Prime Place Restaurant.”
https://twitter.com/AdipoetryKE/status/1096342573503918080
The demolition of PRIME PLACE restaurant near Nyayo Stadium while Weston Hotel still stands, again serves as a reminder that selective justice is not coming to an end anytime soon.I think its high time Kenyans go to the streets and demand that SANY takes its breakfast at Weston. pic.twitter.com/s6hZjphkAZ
— Pere E.S (@emmanuelperuz) February 15, 2019
SANY demolishing structures near Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi County for encroaching onto Kenya Railways land reserve, Prime Place Restaurant among structures to go down.
When is SANY working on Weston Hotel? pic.twitter.com/6mVOIndiEn
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@CisNyakundi) February 15, 2019