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The Kisumu government has razed a building on land allegedly grabbed by a private developer.
The county has intensified efforts to repossess illegally acquired property. The land, which belongs to Kisumu Boys and Kisumu Girls high schools, had been given to city management by the institutions.
Acting city manager Abala Wanga said they had requested the schools to give them the land for temporary use.
"We have an agreement with the institutions. They gave us the parcel of land to relocate the affected traders temporarily. But it was grabbed, forcing the city to demolish the building," he said.
The incomplete building was razed under tight security to avoid looting of the salvaged property. Those who were yearning to loot construction materials, including metals, were kept at bay by police officers.
The more than one acre was given to the two schools by the late President Daniel Moi.
Last year, those who grabbed properties belonging to the county government were told to voluntarily surrender them before forced repossession.
The properties include parking lots, playgrounds, recreational parks, and city houses.
Wanga said the city will not eave any property in the hands of grabbers. A list of all the assets has been compiled.
"It is unfortunate that few individuals have grabbed county assets which should benefit citizens,” he said.
"We are going to start first with big people who have grabbed public property in the city."
Some 52 acres are earmarked grabbed or illegally acquired and are to be reclaimed.
Wanga said they have so far repossessed land belonging to Mama Grace Onyango Hall, formerly social Hall, and a parking lot that was grabbed by a private developer, among other assets.
Last month, the county government demolished the perimeter wall the developer had built around the land.
On Kaloleni estate, some private developers have built houses on illegally acquired land, thereby blocking construction of the proposed Kaloleni Rehabilitation Centre.
Wanga said those who have grabbed public land and built houses will not be spared. "In Kibuye, there were people who grabbed land and built rental houses and offices," he said.
“Anybody who has built a permanent or a makeshift structure on grabbed land should come clean and return it.
“Those who like can go to court, we will demolish structures because the property belongs to the county and you acquire it illegally.”
Edited by F'Orieny
