Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir on Thursday revealed his intentions to move to court to demolish multibillion properties put up on the county's drainage system zones.
Speaking in Mombasa while appraising his constituents on the status of drainage systems, the Governor fired a warning to wealthy developers who have put up high-rise buildings on land set aside for drainage systems.
The Governor identified this as an important review since the county government wants to be proactive and be prepared by upgrading its drainage systems especially now, when the country is experiencing heavy rains.
“It is either we go through a court process, of telling the multi-million investments on the other side of Links Road, demolish everything down,” the Governor remarked.
The Governor remarked that if the buildings are not demolished, he will be forced to work with contractors working on the Bombolulu Road to divert the drainage system.
Governor Abdulswamad also seized the opportunity to warn residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds even as the Kenya Meteorological Department continues to warn of heavy rains across the country.
According to the Governor, even though the government has put in place measures to ensure that drainage systems are well-serviced, heavy rainfall can still cause flooding in residential areas.
“As a stop-gap measure the County Government has already dug a huge soak pit,” the Governor remarked.
Away from flooding, Governor Abdulswamad promised to give landowners 100 percent land tax waivers up to December 31.
“I am happy to announce that, for all the land owners, we have made arrangements with the Ministry for Finance, and we have passed it, it's about to be gazetted. Starting now till December 31 we will waive all penalties,” the Governor stated.
While delivering his remarks, Nassir stated that landowners owe the county government more than Ksh 3 billion in unpaid land rates and interests dating from 2018.
Abdulswamad asked his constituents to pay up the rates saying that this will enable the County Government to deliver on its mandate.
