Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event. Photo/ barakafm.org
A Mombasa court has directed Governor Hassan Joho’s government to respond to a case involving the demolition of Khadija Estate to pave way for the construction of a Sh200 billion housing project.
The county government had unveiled plans to demolish the estate to create space for construction for modern houses.Justice Eric Ogola on Tuesday ordered Joho’s government to respond to the case within the next 14 days. The affected residents, however, want the court to bar the government from evicting them from the estate and recall all those who have already left.Ogola issued the same directive to the complainants asking them to respond to what the county government will say in regard to their eviction. The court also issued a directive to the county government not to interfere, demolish, dispose, alienate or evict the residents from the estate until the case is decided. The residents have termed the the evictions as unlawful, citing lack of public participation.“For a long time, the petitioners have enjoyed quiet and peaceful occupation of the suit property, some even for decades, however this has changed over the past year with the alleged renewal and development of old estates,” read part of the petition, that was seen by the Nation. The residents claim that the county government has refused to accept their rent, as well as provide them with documents in regard to the project.“The respondents have been using this mischief to issue verbal eviction threats and written notices to the petitioners,” the petition further reads.