A family residing in Karen, Nairobi, is counting losses following the demolition of their family home, which had been a part of their lives for nearly five decades.
Speaking to the press on Friday, the owner of the house disclosed that representatives from a private company arrived at their property on Marula Lane in Karen at 3:00 a.m. and commenced the demolition process.
The house, situated on a 40-acre piece of land, was systematically torn down, including its top floor, according to the family.
"Where will my children go? Where will I go? These people are telling us to leave our land, but where do we go?" the woman lamented.
The incident irked the family as it contested the company's claim to ownership of the disputed land. It asserted that the company possessed a title deed, which was fake, and further accused corrupt officials within the Ministry of Lands of working in cahoots with the cartels.
"We went to the Ministry but found out that the property had also been registered to the company," the owner stated
"Some people came from nowhere and lay claim to our land. If you look at this building here, they arrived at 3:00 am yesterday and destroyed it in the process."
The family explained that the company officials claimed they had acquired the land from a foreigner.
However, the homeowner insisted that the company needed to provide documents as evidence of the transaction, including proof of payment and a clear record of the ownership transfer.
She raised a critical question about the company's intentions of owning the land after 49 years, considering that she had occupied the land since 1974.
The homeowner questioned the legitimacy of the foreigner's involvement and why the company failed to produce documents supporting their claim.
"I've had this land for 49 years, came in 1974, hence those saying that this is their land, how is it so? They claimed that a white man ceded ownership to them, who is this foreigner and how comes the firm is not bringing the document showing the proof of payment?" she posed.
