A section of Lang'ata residents is up in arms against a planned multi-million complex in their estate which is scheduled to be constructed on a children's playground.
The residents of Ngei Phase 2, have opposed the building on the one-acre piece of land which is set to host a mall and low-cost housing in the estate over potential environmental and social impact.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the resident's association chairman Mauleed Kipkoech explained that the project was against the building codes of the estate adding that the land was a playground for a local school Lang'ata Junior and also used by residents.
"The developer has insisted on setting up the low-cost housing project which is against the initial plan of the estate," he explained.
Kipkoech added that the developer also presented permits from the county government which he claimed could have been acquired illegally.
The residents have sought police intervention to stop the developer from breaking ground on the field which they said was their children's safe haven.
A resident, David Otieno, and a trustee in the resident association added that the developer had not followed the correct procedure to put up a building in the estate.
Otieno, who has had been a homeowner in the estate since 1986, stated that the developer forced his way into the estate.
"If he indeed he has genuine plans, he has not followed the correct legal procedures with NEMA to have an Environamal Impact Assessment done on the land as well as public participation," he stated.
Open spaces in Nairobi have come under threat of grabbing by different entities over the years.
In 2015, children of Lang'ata primary school and activists protested the grabbing of their school’s playground.
The perimeter wall was brought down and the children started to play on the field. Many of the children were carrying twigs and placards condemning the grabbing.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/VkOXYsktjAA.jpg?itok=X3dSneAo","video_url":"
