Houses built on river banks in Nairobi to be demolished
The Cabinet has endorsed a decision to bring down all buildings built on river banks and other wet areas in Nairobi, a move that could see some developers lose millions of shillings in investments.
Acting Land and Housing secretary Fred Matiang’i on Tuesday said that the Cabinet expects to receive a report from technical officers next week on all the buildings before taking action.
The decision to bring down the buildings was prompted by the flooding experienced in parts of Nairobi where structures built along waterways were blamed for impeding the flow of the water.
“We have a Cabinet decision in place that we bring down buildings that are on riparian ways,” Dr Matiang’i said.
“Cabinet demanded a technical report on all those buildings before the National Construction Authority (NCA) takes action. NCA has met with the county government of Nairobi and have compiled a report which we are supposed to submit to the Cabinet next week.”
Dr Matiang’i did not reveal the contents of the report.
Nairobi ward representatives last week demanded that a Sh1 billion building under construction opposite T-Mall be brought down, saying it was obstructing the flow of Mutuini-Ngong River, causing flooding whenever it rains.
The Land Act defines a riparian reserve as land adjacent to an ocean, lake, sea, rivers, dams and water courses. The law demands that a minimum six metre reserve be left between the highest water point of a river and any development undertaken.
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SOURCE: Business Daily