Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday dismissed a widely-circulated letter purportedly from his office authorizing the demolition of Weston Hotel in Lang'ata, Nairobi.
The letter claimed that Sonko had issued a 7-day notice to implementing agencies to ensure that the Deputy President William Ruto-owned hotel is demolished.
It listed a number of locations also earmarked for demolition, noting that the operation had the full support of President Uhuru Kenyatta through the Nairobi Regeneration Committee which the Governor leads alongside Tourism CS Najib Balala.
Sonko's Communications Director Elkana Jacob, however, told Kenyans.co.ke that the letter was fake, asserting that it was the work of the governor's detractors.
"It's fake! That's the work of witless slothful individuals, God will punish them," he clarified.
[caption caption="DP William Ruto and Governor Mike Sonko at the City Hall Iftar dinner on 13th June, 2018"]
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Earlier this week, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for the first time publicly announced its interest in reclaiming the piece of land on which Weston Hotel sits.
KCAA Director-General Gilbert Kibe stated that the parcel was among hundreds they were intent on repossessing.
"All I can tell you is we are trying our best to repossess our land. We are in court with several cases and the rest is with the National Lands Commission (NLC).
"Yes, Weston Hotel is part of the land but the case is with NLC," he explained.
Sonko himself had only days ago disclosed that Weston would be demolished if it was established that it indeed sits on public land.
In response to his Kiambu counterpart Ferdinand Waititu who suggested that rivers be diverted instead of demolishing buildings, Sonko maintained that all buildings found to be on public or riparian land would be brought down.
""He (Waititu) should know we don't mix friendship with work. Even Weston (Hotel) and many other buildings shall not be spared if found to be on riparian or public land," the Governor noted.
[caption caption="KCAA Director-General Gilbert Kibe"]
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