Kiambu: MCA's office, public toilet demolished at midnight in tussle over land ownership

A public toilet belonging to the Kiambu County government, and an office belonging to Kahawa Sukari Member of County Assembly were demolished last night after tussle over prime plot near the Thika Super Highway escalated.

Also demolished were numerous stalls by small-scale traders. The midnight demolition was allegedly orchestrated by a private developer. 

The developer has been engaged in a protracted dispute over the ownership of the half-acre parcel of land near the Quickmart supermarket and the Matatu terminus.

Owners of the demolished businesses pointed an accusing finger at a local developer whom they say carried out the demolition without issuing any notice or having a court order in effect.

The traders who included Mpesa agents said they incurred cumulative losses running into several millions of shillings. They have appealed to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to intervene.

Terming the operation as brutal and inhumane, they said those behind it did not bother to notify them so as to remove our wares.

Samuel Mwaniki, the chairman of Kahawa Sukari Residents and Plot Owners Association said he received a call a 1.30 am when the demolition squad struck and proceeded to the site only to find all the structures flattened.

He termed the move as criminal as the demolished toilet was the only such facility in the busy and densely populated area and leaves members of the public highly inconvenienced.

He explained that the public toilet was built in 2011 by the then Ruiru Municipal Council and it stands on a public car park used by residents and matatu operators. However, some people illegally allocated the plot to a private developer.

Area MCA Kennedy Odhiambo said he incurred losses amounting over KSh200,000 including office furniture and computers.

He issued a seven-day for the surrender of all the public utility plots being held by individuals in the area, failure to which he shall take up the matter with the County Assembly.