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Developers Ignore Ban On Karen Military Land

The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
December 9, 2004
Posted to the web December 9, 2004
Nairobi
Houses are being built on disputed military land in Karen, Nairobi, despite a
government ban.
The 30-acre land was transferred to individuals in December, 2002, just before
the Narc Government took over power.
Now houses are being built on the land, next to the homes of the chief of
General Staff, General Joseph Kibwana, and the director of the National
Security Intelligence Service, Brigadier Wilson Boinett.
Area residents are concerned that, with plots measuring less than a quarter an
acre, the area's security could be compromised because of the new buildings.
Other homes close to the land measure at least half an acre. Also taken is land
meant for an access road.
Neighbours in the up-market residential area claim that a former Ministry of
Lands employee was selling the plots to unsuspecting people.
Investigations have revealed that former officials of the office of the
Commissioner of Lands transferred the military land into private hands in
December, 2002, with the assistance of senior military officers.
The Government nullified the allocations although a title deed for the hived
off parcel of land had been issued. Allotment letters given to the
beneficiaries were also cancelled.
Lands Permanent Secretary Kiriinya Mukira stopped any further development of
the land until the dispute was sorted out. A pile of concrete posts that formed
the fence were plucked out and have been taken away from the land.
Some of the residents who spoke to the Nation said they were aware that the
land had been earmarked to build a retirement home for former President Moi.

   

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