MP identified as owner of plot built on the river bed

What you need to know:

  • The building is being constructed on the top of the river valley hindering the water from flowing freely. Part of the building’s perimeter wall is erected on the river trail.
  • The workers, however, could not explain why the owner has not put up a signboard outside the construction site as required by law.
  • Asked who owns the building, Nairobi Planning and Housing Executive Tom Odongo said he could only respond to the question later.

An MP on Thursday declined to confirm whether he is the owner of a building that is obstructing flow of a river in Nairobi and causing flooding in estates.

The MP from one of the constituencies in Kisii did not respond to our question sent through a Short Text Message (SMS) after he declined to answer a telephone call to confirm whether he is the owner of the building that has affected the flow of Mutuini-Ngong River.

Last week, the river burst its banks owing to the obstruction and the excess water submerged residential houses around the area.

The building is being constructed on the top of the river valley hindering the water from flowing freely. Part of the building’s perimeter wall is erected on the river trail.

According to workers at the construction site, the MP owns the building, which is at Lang’ata Road opposite T-Mall.

“He is the owner of this building, which is supposed to be a big hotel,” a worker who did not want to identify himself told Nation.

The workers, however, could not explain why the owner has not put up a signboard outside the construction site as required by law.

The signboard is supposed to indicate the name of the contractor, structural engineer and the architect who has designed the building.

Following the massive flooding of Nairobi West area and South C estate, Nairobi governor Evans Kidero visited the site and ordered the construction to be stopped.

Asked who owns the building, Nairobi Planning and Housing Executive Tom Odongo said he could only respond to the question later.

Mr Peter Kuria, who has been operating a flower bed next to the building for the last 35 years said:

“The plot where this building stands was allocated some years ago but I cannot recall exactly when. What I know is that the late minister Michuki (John Michuki) stopped the construction,” Mr Kuria recalled.

He added that even the late environmentalist, Prof Wangari Maathai had visited the place and vowed to the stop construction of a building at the site.

It is not until after the 2013 elections that the construction started in earnest.

Blocking of the riverbed leds to overflows that clogged up Lang’ata Road, rendering it impassable.

The floods then engulfed NHC Nairobi West Estate, leaving a trail of destruction.