Veteran politician Martha Karua on Tuesday jumped to Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu's defense over his comments on the ongoing demolitions in Nairobi.
Waititu, on Monday, gave an alternative to bringing down buildings built on river courses, advocating for the government to place the burden of diverting the river on the investor instead of demolishing the entire property.
Lawyer Apollo Mboya contributed to the discussion where he highlighted that Waititu was contradicting President Uhuru Kenyatta's stand on the demolitions.
Responding to the comment, Karua suggested Kenyans should entertain the Kiambu governor's suggestion and allow for reflection on how to reclaim rivers.
[caption caption="Martha Karua addressing the media"]
[/caption]
"The suggestion is worth discussing! Let alternatives that can mitigate loss especially to third parties where applicable be debated!" she tweeted on Tuesday.
She added that the loss that will result from the demolitions will amount to billions of shillings, a fate that was avoidable.
"We must not close our ears to alternative suggestions that can mitigate loss. Waiting to see Westgate come down just like the others to know it is not a selective application!" she added.
Former presidential candidate Abduba Dida also defended Waititu's position on the debate arguing that it was easier to change a watercourse than to bring down an entire building.
"Waititu has a very valid point. But as always, everyone will just laugh it off. Which one is easier, bringing down a building or changing watercourse? Dubai has man-made water bodies for example. Why not just adjust the watercourse?
"The point is, we need a serious discussion on the ongoing demolitions. Otherwise, we would have to demolish every single structure erected at the wrong place, including that Chinese thing passing through Nairobi National Park! We shouldn't be selective on such serious issues!" he conveyed.
[caption caption="Former presidential candidate Abduba Dida"]
[/caption]
Waititu's comments lit up social media with a section of Kenyans, including economist David Ndii, partaking in the #BabaYaoChallenge.
Others called for the canalization of waterways in the city - a model adopted in technologically advanced countries including England and UAE.
