South B market in limbo after land grabbed, residents protest

Residents of Nairobi's South B estate might not get their first market after a private developer allegedly took over land meant to develop the facility.

The move by the developer, believed to be a sitting MP from Kiambu, caused an uproar among residents who responded by pulling down the iron sheet fence he had erected around the land with registration number LR.NO 209/12621.

Residents who spoke to the Star over the weekend expressed their grievances saying their ward will remain the only one without a market in Nairobi.

"I have lived here for the past 40 years and South B has never had a market. Our MCA had informed us that a market was to be built on the land, but we hear it has been taken by a private developer. Does this mean we shall continue selling by the roadside?'" posed Mary Njeri, resident.

"Last week, there was a lorry filled with iron sheets, the area was later fenced with the iron sheet.  The following day, those who had their items inside started to remove the barrier,” John Ngugi said.

The caretaker of the area refused to share any information with the Star about the owner and the eviction of businesses that were on the disputed land.

“The owner has not given me the authority to say anything. He is not around. The authority comes from him. You can’t get all the information from us because we are just taking care of this premise,” the caretaker said.

As a result, Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege has brought a petition to the assembly on the matter. She said residents might never live to see a market in the ward if the land is grabbed.

In the petition which was signed by over 400 residents, Waithera noted that the land at the Makuti area is a public land, that had been earmarked by the government for construction of a modern market.

“That the modern market would benefit residents mostly by increasing employment opportunities, increasing quality of production, creating an environment for healthy competition and increasing consumer status,” part of petition reads.

The petition sought the attention of the County Assembly to intervene and ensure the land is reclaimed for public use.

At the same time, Waithera who is the Deputy Minority Leader has also claimed that her life is in danger.

Via a letter addressed to the County Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi, the MCA said she is afraid some unnamed people who intend to grab a piece of land at South B shopping centre, are after her life.

The ward rep said her pursuit towards repossession of the public grabbed land, has exposed her where unknown individuals have been intimidating and threatening her.

“Should something happen to me, then you know who to look for. I have already recorded a statement at the police station on the same under OB No.09/9/82023 at Richfield Police Station, South B,” part of the letter reads.

Waithera said the public land under registration LR.NO 209/12621 was invaded and grabbed by the private developer on August 2, and attempts from residents to reclaim it has not been successful so far.

As a result, she is calling upon Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to crack the whip and stop the public land from being grabbed.

" I'm asking the governor to walk the talk and visit the area which is about to be grabbed. As Kenya Kwanza, we have a plan of constructing markets in Nairobi. This will be impossible if we let land grabbers take over public land," Waithera added.

While campaigning last year, Sakaja said his administration would not demolish markets or chase away hawkers from their bases of operations. 

He promised to construct 20 new markets across Nairobi.

The cases of land grabbing in Nairobi county have recently increased even as Sakaja sends a warning that no one will be spared by his administration.

He warned those that had grabbed public land belonging to schools and hospitals to pack up and leave ‘before the law catches up with them’.

“Those that have been stealing land meant for schools, I ask you to start packing and move out because we’re not going to negotiate. That we can not negotiate,” Sakaja said.

Recently, the county government demolished a building that had been built my Airbase Ward MCA on a land housing Eastleigh health facility.

Another incident was reported recently where the private developer attempted to grab land where Kimathi Primary School in Maringo Ward sits.

Lavingtone Primary School in Dagoretti North has also been facing threats from the private developer, a case that was recently brought to a conclusion after the governor handed over the school’s title deed to the area MP  Beatrice Elachi.