80 Homes in Kayole's Nyama Villa Estate Face Demolition

A photo of past demolitions in Kayole, Nairobi County
A photo of past demolitions in Kayole, Nairobi County
Photo
Doreen Ajiambo

A private developer is seeking a demolition order from the court to evict at least 80 families from the land in Nyama Villa Estate, Kayole.

Speaking on Sunday, an official from Muthithi Investments explained the demolition would only target 80 homeowners.

According to the official, the owners had failed to comply with the land sale agreement they signed after a court ruled they were the rightful owners of the land.

The investment company argued that the 80 homes had failed to honour the payment agreement.  

Nairobi officials supervise the demolition of a wall on a road reserve along Access Road in South C estate on July 16, 2020.
Nairobi officials supervise the demolition of a wall on a road reserve along Access Road in South C estate on July 16, 2020.
Photo
GPS

"We will demolish the house of the 80 not because we want but because we have had enough," an official from the company stated.

The demolition exercise on the land was halted in 2018 after former President Uhuru Kenyatta pleaded with the developers to come to an agreement with the homeowners.

Following Uhuru's intervention, the company subdivided the land into at least 304 plots and asked those occupying it to pay.

However, some of the occupants have failed to comply.

"120 of the occupants are continuing with their payments as agreed upon," he added.

The land in question is about 20 acres and has been in court cases for over a decade.

Land grabbing cases in the country have been on the rise with innocent buyers losing their land.

Early this month, occupants of the land owned by East African Portland Cement (EAPC Plc) in Machakos were left counting losses after the government demolished their homes.

Others occupying the land owned by the late businessman Gerishon Kirima may also be evicted if an agreement is not reached before December 2023.

A collage of  President William Ruto on October 22, 2023 (left) and a section of the land in Njiru (right)
A collage of President William Ruto on October 22, 2023 (left) and a section of the land in Njiru (right)
PCS