Two malls have been brought down in Nairobi in a span of one week. Ukay Mall in Westlands was today (Friday) demolished, a day after Southend Mall situated opposite T-Mall along Lang'ata road was demolished on grounds that it had been constructed on riparian land.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko confirmed that several buildings and properties sitting on public land will soon be reclaimed and repossessed by the government.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sonko listed a number of areas that will be affected by the ongoing demolition.
"Better be a one-term Governor and leave a legacy than entertaining grabbing of public land/utilities," read Sonko's post in part.
On Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta also assured Kenyans that all riparian land will be reclaimed, adding that all those responsible for approving buildings on the said land shall be prosecuted regardless of their positions.
“We are now in the process of demolishing properties that have been built on riparian land along our riverbeds; a situation that has resulted in flooding and other related issues that make Nairobi uncomfortable to its own residents," said Uhuru.
“We are not going to just punish those who built. I want to assure you that we are also going after all those who issued those permits. Those ones will be prosecuted…be they county officials, lands officials or NEMA officials, they will be prosecuted because they are equally to fault as those who build,” he added
The ongoing demolitions have elicited mixed reactions among residents in Kiambu, with some supporting the move. Here are some of the reactions: