Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Friday led an operation to repossess grabbed public land in Gigiri.
Sonko stormed a showroom which sits on grabbed public land, declaring that it would henceforth act as a fire station.
He ordered three county fire engines to be immediately deployed and stationed at the location.
The owner of the showroom, Goreti Gichuru, pleaded with the Governor to allow them time to vacate the premises.
"Governor, I'm ready to obey the law, but we are humbly requesting for more time so that we can vacate this land," she asked.
[caption caption="Governor Mike Sonko is shown a map in Gigiri on 10/08/2018"]
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Sonko agreed to her request but asserted that the fire engines would remain stationed there as the county worked to construct a modern fire station on the land.
"This is a public property that was meant for a fire station. From today, we have reclaimed it back and we shall have a modern fire station built here," he declared.
Sonko reiterated his commitment to reclaiming grabbed public spaces in Nairobi, particularly expressing his displeasure at the the grabbing of school land.
"For example, Bohra Primary School’s title deed is registered under a private developer, Daniel Comboni Primary is having encroachment by neighbors all around and part of Garden Estate Primary School is registered under a private developer who has a title," he stated.
The Governor gave at least 13 examples of parcels of land belonging to public schools that had been grabbed.
[caption caption="A businessman pleads with Governor Mike Sonko on 10/08/2018"]
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