A Ruai building for sale. [Photo/pendelea.com]
Thousands of homeowners could lose property in Ruai following a land-buying company’s decision to demolish property on plots with contested ownership.
In a press conference at the company’s office on Tuesday, Embakasi Ranching Company officials said they had no option but to begin demolitions because the disputed property owners had failed to resolve the disputes.
“We have tried to use peaceful means to end some of these disputes of double allocations but people who have built on other people’s land have ignored our concerns. Demolition is the only way out now,” said the company’s chairman, Thuita Mwangi.
He cited cases where people who are accused of grabbing plots owned by the company’s shareholders but had declined to honor summons in efforts to resolve the disputes.
“We have seen cases where people who have put up buildings on contested plots ignore the summons from the chief, police and district officers. Such people are not interested in peaceful resolutions and the only to recover the plot is pulling down their property,” said Mwangi.
Part of the disputes in ownership is a result of present and older surveyors holding on maps which are properties of the company. Mwangi says the company was ready to pay any arrears it has with any surveyor as long as they delivered the maps according to the contracts with the company. “The first and second chairmen of the company are dead.
Three surveyors have also passed on. Our plea is that those who worked under the deceased surveyors release any maps and documents relating to the company and we will clear any debts,” he said.
“They should surrender the maps because that was the requirement of the contract when they were commissioned by the company,” he said. Mwangi cautioned shareholders against transferring land through lawyers only the company directors can verify share certificates. “Some of these disputes are a result of people not following proper procedure in transferring their plots.
For example, if you do the land transfer through a lawyer, how will the lawyer know which is the genuine share certificate. That can only be done by the company,” he said.
Mwangi said the company is in the last stages of issuing title deeds to the shareholders and was keen to ensure the process went on smoothly.