Architects blame council

Construction experts are blaming what they term negligent government and city council officials for buildings being demolished along Thika Road.

The Architectural Association of Kenya said on Sunday that, while the demolitions are legal, the officials must be taken to task for approving them.

The chairman, Mr Gideon Mulyungi, said the demolitions had been caused by the officials.

The buildings are to pave the way for a 10-lane highway whose construction is to begin in January. The Government has reportedly received Sh18.5 billion from African Development Bank for improving the 45km road from Nairobi to Thika.

“The buildings must have been approved by somebody and he should be made to pay,” Mr Mulyungi said. “Whoever may have given the developers the title deeds and approved the development of the buildings should be arrested and arraigned in a court of law.

“If there will be need to demolish buildings that are not on road reserves then the Government should be ready to compensate (the owners) to the last penny.

“This is the only way they will show seriousness, paving the way for a super-highway.”

Nairobi Metropolitan Development assistant minister Elizabeth Ongoro said that although she was dissatisfied with the manner in which the demolitions are being done, the construction of the highway is vital.

“The expansion of the road is vital in decongesting the highway, but those responsible for corruptly selling road reserves should be held accountable,” added the Kasarani MP.

“Structures on any road reserve ought to be demolished, but this should not appear to punish proprietors alone. Somebody must surely take responsibility for allocating the plots in the first place.”

The head of planners in the country, Mr Mairura Omwenga, said the root cause of the problem is the absence of a master plan for the city.

“There is one that was created in 1948 and expired in 1974,” he pointed out. “since then there has been no master plan, and this is why the confusion comes in.

“We are partnering with the Government to see to it that we have one soonest.”

The advantage of the a master plan is that there will be a better yardstick for decision making as well as improved administration and revenue collection.”