Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Tuesday suspended an official believed to have approved the construction of buildings on riparian land, among them the Southend Mall.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, John Ojwang, an employee in the Urban Planning Department was issued with a show cause notice as to why he should not be fired.
"Nairobi City County Government has today suspended Mr. John Ojwang, an employee in the Urban Planning Department for his role in the approval of buildings on riparian land. Mr Ojwang has been issued with a notice to show cause within 14 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him, including termination of employment," the statement read in part.
The county government noted that most of the approvals were given in the 1980s and 1990s mainly by staff who have since retired or left City Hall.
"However, Mr Ojwang was responsible for granting permission for the construction of the Southend Mall at the Langata Road-Mbagathi Way Junction, and for Gem Suits in Riverside estate," the statement added.
[caption caption="Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko"]
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The suspension follows preliminary investigations ordered by the Nairobi Governor to hold responsible the staff who gave the approvals irregularly.
The Mosiara Trading Company investors initiated the project in the year 2008 at a time the owner was a sitting MP elected on a People's Democratic Party(PDP) ticket.
Four years later (in 2012), the construction works were interrupted by authorities over environmental concerns raised by South C and Nairobi West residents and a number of lobby groups.
It later emerged that the owners managed to obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment Licence dated August 16, 2012, from the National Environment Management Authority(NEMA)
The Mall owners have documents indicating that NEMA ratified the Mosiara Trading Company Limited’s intended project allowing them to construct a hotel and office block on plot L.R. No 209/12227 after reportedly paying Kshs40 million.
“The proponent shall ensure that no development activity shall be undertaken within a distance of 10 metres from the highest ever recorded level of Ngong River,” reads the licence in part.
[caption caption="Southend mall at the Langata Road-Mbagathi Way Junction when it was demolished earlier in August"]
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