Nairobi County on the spot over land grabbing claims
Members of a civil society group called Operation Ondoa Panya bring down a fence on a piece of land allegedly grabbed by private developers and which is said to intended for the Eastleigh open-air market. The Nairobi County government is on the spot over GRABBING of public land. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Recently, residents protested against grabbing of Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Eastleigh open-air market land.
- County Health Executive Bernard Muia said that City Hall was committed to getting the land back.
- He said that the county government would expect those who had illegally acquired the land to return it without controversy and avoid court cases.
The Nairobi County government is on the spot over tussles and controversies witnessed in recent weeks as city residents demonstrate over grabbing of public land.
And while residents take to the streets, the government, which stands accused of allotting public land and approving building plans, is yet to clearly spell out how to deal with the problem.
In the past week, residents of Pumwani and Eastleigh estates protested against grabbing of Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Eastleigh open-air market land.
Fifteen acres meant for the expansion of the hospital have been allegedly grabbed, resulting in stalling of the expansion plans.
The land was supposed to house an administration block, intensive care unit, operating theatre, mortuary, staff houses and playground. Only 5 acres are available now.
County Health Executive Bernard Muia said that City Hall was committed to getting the land back.
“It is very unfortunate that Kenyans can grab land belonging to a health centre. That is impunity of the highest order,” Dr Muia said.
He said that the county government would expect those who had illegally acquired the land to return it without controversy and avoid court cases.
PUMWANI 15 ACRES GRABBED
Dr Muia said: “According to the building approval plans in possession of the county government, Pumwani Hospital is supposed to occupy 20 acres but only utilises five because the rest has been grabbed”.
Dr Muia will have a tough task repossessing the 15 acres as the hospital does not have a title deed.
He said: “I cannot give timelines on when the houses sitting on the land will be brought down but what I do know is that health care facilities are crucial especially with the rising population.
“Whoever had allocated land to the developers did so illegally because it was already marked as hospital land,” he said.
Dr Muia said that there had been pressure in the Health Services ministry as powerful people in the national and county governments wanted to be allocated the remaining five acres of Pumwani Maternity Hospital land in a bid to privatise the facility.
Another case is the Eastleigh open-air market, which has been subject to controversy for about seven years following attempts to transfer it from public ownership to private property.
