Residents of Eastleigh have raised an alarm over an alleged land grab involving a piece of public land earmarked for the support of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and families from vulnerable backgrounds.
The roughly one-acre parcel, situated near Starehe Boys Centre, has long been linked to community welfare initiatives but is now at the centre of a land ownership dispute.
According to residents, the land was set aside by the government to host facilities aimed at boosting social support for PWDs and vulnerable families.
The calm was disrupted after a businessman who had leased a portion of the land in 2020 allegedly laid claim to the entire property, sparking renewed tension over its ownership.
A community representative, who is also a survivor of the 1998 August bomb attack, alleges there is a deliberate plan to grab the land. She says the government entrusted her with overseeing the land as part of a broader plan to empower and support PWDs and disadvantaged families within the community.
She explained that in 2020, she leased part of the land to a private developer under a formal agreement that was to expire in March 2025. However, she claims the arrangement was breached soon after the developer took possession.
“The lease ended in March 2025 as per our agreement. Since he came onto the property, he told me he would not pay anything until he finished building and the project started operating. He said he would then pay two years’ dues,” she stated.
She was quick to clarify that she does not privately own the land but acts as a sponsor to a local school, Safaith Centre, which was established on part of the land to support children from vulnerable families and those living with disabilities.
Tensions escalated when community members allegedly attempted to secure the land, only for unknown individuals, whom residents claim were backed by government security officers, to reopen an access route through the property.
“Yesterday we covered the place, but some people, with the support of government apparatus, came and opened up a road, yet it is not a road,” said the school director.
The situation further intensified after what residents say is a public road was temporarily closed, drawing the attention of security agencies and local administrators.
Starehe Assistant County Commissioner Linus Bi confirmed that authorities had intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.
“The first thing we did was to secure the place, and we addressed the issue of the road,” he said, adding that investigations are still ongoing.
Bi noted that ownership of the land has not yet been established.
“We cannot say who the actual owner is until we hold a meeting and verify the documents,” he added.
Residents fear that if the dispute results in the closure of the school and support facilities, the consequences for the community could be dire.
“If this school is closed, our children will drop out of school and end up becoming addicts and thieves,” said one concerned resident.
