Land row puts on hold Sh3bn real estate plan
Part of the perimeter wall that was under construction on the 134 acre-contentious land in Karen on October 18, 2014. The government has stepped in to resolve a dispute surrounding the ownership of a prime parcel of land in Nairobi’s Lavington estate proposed for a Sh3 billion real estate project. FILE PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The row, which has been ongoing since May, is over a seven-acre piece on which businessman Ashok Rupshi Shah plans to construct low-cost housing units through his company Summermount Holdings.
- The project involves construction of 28 low-cost modern housing units. Mr Shah accused the legislator of using his powers to frustrate the project.
The government has stepped in to resolve a dispute surrounding the ownership of a prime parcel of land in Nairobi’s Lavington estate proposed for a Sh3 billion real estate project.
The row, which has been ongoing since May, is over a seven-acre piece on which businessman Ashok Rupshi Shah plans to construct low-cost housing units through his company Summermount Holdings.
Mr Shah said the project failed to take off after Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati stormed the property accompanied by a group of youths and his bodyguards, claimed that the plot is public land.
Speaking when he visited the property, National Land Commission chairman Mohamad Swazuri said there were legitimate documents showing Mr Shah as the true owner of the land and that investigations would be launched into claims that the piece is a water catchment area.
“We need to establish whether it is marked as a water catchment area before the developer can start working on it. We will have consultations with all the interested parties on the way forward once that is established,” Mr Swazuri said.
The project involves construction of 28 low-cost modern housing units. Mr Shah accused the legislator of using his powers to frustrate the project.
The row has also caught the eye of the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi who in August, wrote to Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo directing him to ensure urgent investigations are undertaken to uncover the truth about the alleged criminal activity by Mr Arati.
“I now write to direct that you use your office and ensure that urgent investigations are undertaken and culprits found culpable of breaking the law be prosecuted,” Mr Muturi said.
Dagoretti police station head of investigations Joseph Ondoro had in July said Mr Arati’s file was forwarded to the director of public prosecution.
“The incident we investigated occurred at a property owned by the businessman. We established that it is not the first time there had been a conflict between the complainant and the MP. Our officers also established that a gate at the property was destroyed,” Mr Ondoro said.
