Sonko to organise funds drive for evicted Westlands family

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has said he will organise for a funds drive for the family whose home was demolished in Westlands.

Sonko said what happened to the family was unjust and reparations need to be made to the family.

"We shall organise with my team to have a Harambee for this family to help them start rebuilding their lives," he said.

Sonko made a visit to the family's demolished home on Wednesday evening to assess the situation.

He said if the incident had happened during his time, he would have properly dealt with the culprits.

The house had been wrecked by auctioneers on Friday, November 4, who claimed they had a court order to evict them from the premises.

Niraj Shah and his wife, Avani Shah, said they are the owners of the house and the lease is set to expire in 25 years.

"They came on Friday, armed with machetes and sledgehammers and flashed an alleged court order in my wife's face," Niraj said.

The court order, he said, was titled Lariak Properties Limited versus Metro Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Metro Pharmaceuticals is a company owned by Niraj Shah.

"How can they come to a property registered in an individual's name claiming to evict us for something related to my company?" He asked

Shah said the two are not related at all and even so, there are protocols to follow when conducting an eviction, which the auctioneers did not follow at all.

Avani said property worth more than Sh80 million was lost during the wreckage.

"They took electronic devices from the kitchen, phones, televisions and laptops around the house. Literally, all the furniture in the house was destroyed," she said as she assessed the damage at the house on Wednesday evening.

The family said they are currently staying with friends and family and they appreciate any help they can get.