NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 30 – A residential block for police officers whose construction has just been completed at the Central Police Station in Nairobi has now been earmarked for demolition to pave way for expansion of Thika road.
Construction of the three-storey building located at the junction of Moi Avenue, Slip Road and University Way began in 2005 and is in its final stages. The houses are yet to be occupied.
A senior police officer who asked to remain anonymous told Capital News the building would be demolished because it stands on a part of the land earmarked for the expansion of Thika road which has been underway for several months now.
The expansion involves part of University Way, Slip Road, Kirinyaga Road, and Forest Road all the way to Thika Road where vehicles have been diverted to pave way for a super eight-lane highway which has been projected to be ready by the end of next year.
“It is just a matter of time before it is brought down. Consultations have been going on at very high levels and an agreement has been reached, there is even some payment made,” the source said.
Capital News independently established that officials from the Ministry of Roads and Public Works had been meeting with authorities at Police Headquarters where an agreement to demolish the building block was reached.
No immediate comment was forthcoming from the office of the Police Spokesman about the amount of money paid to have the building demolished but we were informed that Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere had consented to it.
“The agreement was to have the Roads Ministry pay the police the amount of money that was used to construct the building so that a similar block can be put up not very far away from where this one is,” our source said.
“The amount of money agreed upon has already been paid, and currently the contractor is still clearing the way for the actual construction, the building will be brought down very soon.”
The housing project was initiated by former police boss Maj Gen (rtd) Mohammed Hussein Ali in 2005.
Most police housing projects in Nairobi are almost complete and would be occupied soon.
Last week, Mr Iteere toured various police stations in Nairobi and Central Province during a fact-finding mission on the living conditions of his officers.
In one of such tour at Kasarani and Kamukunji stations, Mr Iteere told journalists the number of houses available for officers were not adequate and announced that he would speed up ongoing constructions.
About The Author
