Court halts Hazina Towers rise

What you need to know:

  • Nakumatt, through its lawyer, Mr Ian Maina, said that the construction will give rise to a lot of dust, noise and air pollution, hence pose a grave danger to their supermarket staff, shoppers and members of the public.

The expansion of Hazina Towers to a 40-storey skyscraper has been temporarily stopped by the court.

The High Court issued the orders Tuesday after the retail chain Nakumatt, which occupies three floors in the downtown Nairobi building, complained that the project had kept away its customers over safety and health fears.

The National Social Security Fund, which owns the building, had planned to spend about Sh7.1 billion in the expansion.

Justice Lucy Gacheru halted the building works for two weeks to maintain the status quo as before the commencement of the upgrade.

QUIET POSSESSION

The 14-day order of interim injunction bars constructors China Hang Xi International Kenya Limited and NSSF from interfering with the suit premises or Nakumatt’s “enjoyment of quiet possession” of the premises.

The judge also ordered removal of scaffolding or blocking of shoppers to the shop.

Nakumatt, through its lawyer, Mr Ian Maina, said that the construction will give rise to a lot of dust, noise and air pollution, hence pose a grave danger to their supermarket staff, shoppers and members of the public.

“The defendants are currently dumping building materials, waste, installing machinery, cranes and operating them thereby causing unprecedented nuisance to the plaintiff, its staff and customers,” he said.