A section of Kibera residents now want Governor Mike Sonko not to demolish Taj Mall as planned.
The residents instead want the governor to take up the offer the owner of the building Ramesh Gorasia has proposed.
The residents argue that the Mall can be used to benefit city residents if the owner surrenders it to the government.
“Governor Sonko should weigh on the proposal by the owner to turn Taj Mall into a public utility,” Samson Ambeta said.
He said that the offer by the owner is reasonable and the government should consider it.
“While it is right to demolish structures on riparian land and road reserves, the government should also reason out and consider the benefit such structures can have on people,” he said.
“Demolishing Taj Mall is right as per the law but the government can weigh on and take it (the building) up instead of pulling it down,” Peter Ndeka said.
He said that the ongoing demolitions will have ripple effects on the city’s economy.
"We have witnessed people lose jobs as a result of the demolitions,” he said.
The residents asked Sonko to be reasonable and negotiate with the building owners on possible ways of handling the situation before demolition.
Taj Mall owner had asked the government to take up the building and turn it into a school or public utility instead of demolishing it.
Governor Sonko has however maintained that all buildings constructed on riparian land and road reserves will be demolished.
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