Barely four days after President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke firmly on the demolition of buildings built on riparian land, Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has antagonized him.
Waititu in an outburst on Sunday said he is not in support of this move by the state noting it is a huge loss to investors.“Kubomoa Nyumba is not a solution honestly. It’s such a big loss,” he said during a church service at PCEA Musa Giatu in Gikambura, Kikuyu constituency.
The Kiambu County boss proposed that owners of buildings close to a river should foot the cost of the ensuring the river “moves a bit” instead of demolishing the property.
He added: “Kama hiyo watu wanasupport ubomoaji, mimi hapana support. Mambo iangaliwe. Kama kuna nyumba yako inakaribiana na mto, wewe uambiwe ni gharama yako kuhakikisha hiyo mto imesonga kidogo.”
In English, it loosely translates to: “There are people supporting demolition, personally I’m not. Things should be reconsidered. If your house is near a river, you should be told it is your onus to ensure that the river has moved a bit.”
This is contrary to Uhuru’s directive to bring down properties built on riparian land noting it will discourage corruption.
“We are doing everything to discourage corruption. It is possible to do clean business in Kenya, this is what we want to encourage,” said the President in a tweet on Thursday last week.
Several buildings in Nairobi including UKay mall in Westlands, Southend mall in Eastlands, Java, and Shell outlets in Kileleshwa have so far been demolished.