Senator Wamatangi's car bazaar amongst property demolished

Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi’s car bazaar situated opposite the Nyayo Stadium was among the structures demolished on Friday morning for encroaching onto the Kenya Railways land reserve.

Other property include  Prime Place Restaurant which faced the wrath of the infamous Sany bulldozer. The main structure in the area housed  the restaurant, a pharmacy, a salon, a boutique and a cosmetics shop.

According to eye witnesses, many armed officers were on the site to oversee the demolition process which caused a heavy traffic snarl up on the busy Langata road.

Tenants who reported to work told the Daily Nation that they were shocked to find their stalls flattened or in the process of being demolished. They claimed that they were not served with a vacation notice after their landlord was told to vacate the premises. The authorities however said that the notice was issued in 2018.

This demolition comes a few months after the Nairobi county government said it will continue to demolish buildings on public and riparian land after taking a break in last years demolitions.

In January, Public Work, Housing and Infrastructure Public Secretary, Paul Maringa declared the rise of buildings on road and railway reserves.

“ Out of the total number of houses audited, 57 which were condemned have been demolished and another 7’300 which have been put up in road reserves and railway reserves will also be brought down,’ he told a meeting on safety building.

He said that the government will not only demolish such structures but also prosecute their owners.