Ukay centre owners have come out to demand Ksh2.3 billion compensation from the government over the demolition of the mall.
Kental Enterprise, the company behind the mall, has sued the government for Ksh.2.3 billion in damages.
The company maintains its building plans were approved by the then Nairobi City Council in 1994 and the demolition now constitutes compulsory acquisition of their piece of land, which necessitates compensation.
According to court papers, the developer of Ukay Center is demanding compensation for the demolition of the structure — a mall that sat on three plots of land the company values at Ksh.2.3 billion.
The first plot of land is estimated at Ksh.1.85 billion while the second and third plots are valued Ksh.230 million shillings each.
The Attorney General, the Nairobi City County, National Environment and Management Authority, the Water Resources Management Authority and the National Youth Service that undertook the demolition exercise under the Nairobi Regeneration Initiative have been listed as respondents.
Kental Enterprises claims its building plans for Ukay Centre were approved by the then Nairobi City Council in 1994 and a subsequent amendments to the plans were approved by the city council in 1995.
The 25-year-old Ukay Centre, which was in an expansive two-acre area was demolished in August 2018.
The mall was demolished in the rigorous crackdown on buildings put up along riparian land.
"There is no river under this property, the nation has been cheated. There's only a stream at the back of this building.
"No government authority has ever issued us with a notice of demolition despite us moving to court," the property manager stated at the time.
