Legal action planned to challenge transfer of city estate

What you need to know:

  • Mr Duba, who eventually won the seat, has, however, chosen to remain silent over the issue after it was highlighted by the Nation last week.
  • The residents also want City Hall to explain why the transfer was done when the Transitional Authority had already issued a memo in February 2012 freezing all transfers of county assets.

Residents of a city estate that has been mysteriously transferred to a provident fund are planning to go to court to challenge the move.

Occupants of Mariakani Estate in South B are worried that Nairobi leaders have remained silent over the “illegal” transfer of the estate to the Local Authorities Provident Fund (Lapfund).

They said even Governor Evans Kidero should not try to exonerate himself from the transfer since it happened on March 18, 2013, when he was already in office.

Last week, Dr Kidero said he was not to blame when the residents’ committee visited him at City Hall. It was the defunct City Council of Nairobi that transferred the estate, he said.

“Where is our senator, Mr Mike Sonko? Why is he silent on this matter?” asked the residents’ spokesman, Mr Edward Thairu.

Nairobi County Secretary Lillian Ndegwa said the estate was sold by the defunct council over Sh2.1 billion it owed Lapfund, which was a retirement benefit scheme for council workers.

What is worrying the residents more, is that Mr Roba Duba, who was among the officials who signed the transfer, had resigned as town clerk in June 2012 to contest the Moyale parliamentary seat.

REMAIN SILENT

Mr Duba, who eventually won the seat, has, however, chosen to remain silent over the issue after it was highlighted by the Nation last week.

“Why is it that even after the property changed hands, the Nairobi County Government still collects rent from us?” asked the residents during one of their meetings.

They are expected to meet again tomorrow. “We are meeting to tell the residents how far we have gone. We are in the process of collecting funds to go to court. This is what we intend to tell the residents,” Mr Thairu said on the phone.

The residents also want City Hall to explain why the transfer was done when the Transitional Authority had already issued a memo in February 2012 freezing all transfers of county assets.

They commended Ward Representative Manoah Mboku, saying he has continued to put up a spirited fight over the transfer of the estate.