“We will continue to demolish properties constructed on riparian lands, equally punish officials who made approvals for those properties”/PSCU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 9 – President Uhuru Kenyatta says government officials who approved construction of buildings on riparian land should be arrested and charged.
Through his Twitter account, the Head of State said that the officials must be punished for their actions.
While stating that the demolition of buildings on riparian lands will continue, he emphasised that everything will be done to discourage corruption.
“We will continue to demolish properties constructed on riparian lands, equally punish officials who made approvals for those properties. We are doing everything to discourage corruption. It is possible to do clean business in Kenya, this is what we want to encourage,” he said.
President Kenyatta observed that the demolition is meant to encourage clean business within the country and nothing would stop it from going forward.
His sentiments come as NEMA embarked on a demolition exercise, the latest targeting the Southend Mall situated at the junction of Mbagathi-Lang’ata roundabout.
Developers have in the meantime produced licenses and certificates signed by the National Environmental and Management Authority (NEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) in the presence of the National Assembly Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
On Thursday, the proprietors of the Ukay Centre in Westlands moved to court seeking orders to halt the intended demolition of their premises.
Through lawyer Greg Karungo, they want the court to issue conservatory order to restrain the County Government, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) and the Attorney General from taking the action.
Karungo contends that the property is situated on pieces of land which the proprietors own.
He is seeking an order seeking to stop any demolition until the case is fully argued and a determination made.
The matter is now to be placed before the vacation judge for directions.
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