Mayhem as MP, conservationists stop church from developing land
Environmental activists look at some arrows allegedly used by guards during a protest over riparian land in Westlands on July 12, 14 which the PCEA claims ownership. Photo/ JEFF ANGOTE
What you need to know:
- The group alleged that the five-acre piece of land along Peponi Road is public land and no private development should be carried out on it.
- However, a protestor showed bruises on his arm claiming they were from an arrow shot by the guards.
- Mr Wanyonyi said he will not allow any development to take place on the land.
- The MP accused officials of Nairobi City County of being behind irregular allocations of land in the city
Mayhem broke out in Westlands, Nairobi Saturday after conservationists and residents led by area MP Tim Wanyonyi attempted to reclaim land allegedly grabbed by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).
The group alleged that the five-acre piece of land along Peponi Road is public land and no private development should be carried out on it.
A signboard erected on the property indicates that it is owned by the church. A developer was already on site building a perimeter wall.
Trouble started when the protesters attempted to pull down the wall but were stopped by hired guards armed with bows and arrows, among other weapons.
Gigiri OCPD Vitalis Otieno arrived on the scene to calm the situation.
“No one was hurt as a result of the fight, but we have restored calm and resolved with the disputing parties to take the case to court,” he told Sunday Nation.
However, a protestor showed bruises on his arm claiming they were from an arrow shot by the guards.
Mr Wanyonyi said he will not allow any development to take place on the land.
He threatened to lead residents to repossess the land if the PCEA does not leave, saying it would be a great disrespect to the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai if he lets the development continue.
“The same people who are behind the development were stopped by Prof Maathai some time ago.
The county government should tell us how the land ceased to be a wetland,” he said.
“In fact, the National Land Commission has written a letter saying any development on the land should be stopped,” he added.
The MP accused officials of Nairobi City County of being behind irregular allocations of land in the city.
The MP was supported by conservationists from the Green Belt Movement and Civilian Wetland Conservations.
The Nairobi County Assembly, according to a report by Leader of Majority Elias Otieno, legally transferred the land to the PCEA after the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) confirmed it was not a wetland as previously gazetted.
Mr Otieno told the assembly that the church had gone through all channels, which were approved by the authorities after confirming the state of the land, tabling correspondence between the county, the environmental authority and the church.
The PCEA then moved quickly to fence off the land and heavily guard the area with plans to develop it.
The report was tabled after Speaker Alex ole Magelo called for the summoning of land officers for approving construction at the site.
“We know that county officials are part of the land grabbing disease. I want to remind you members that the buck stops with you,” Mr Magelo said.
The National Land Commission’s Abigael Mbagaya said they had instituted investigations over complaints of encroachment.
