Helicopter Ministries in land dispute with County Government
The Nairobi Dam, once a bustling recreation area for the city’s residents, has been shrinking due to encroachment.
However, the Nairobi County Government is taking action to reclaim the illegally grabbed land.
The Planning and Lands Department has revealed that the initial 88-acre dam has been encroached on, reducing its size, and raising alarm that it could be lost for good if nothing is done.
Also read: City Hall seeks Uhuru’s help to secure Nairobi Dam title deed
County Chief Officer for Planning and Lands, Ms Cecilia Koigu, assured the County Assembly Planning Committee that the matter will be brought to rest soon.
“We also want to bring this matter to an end because our dam is going and we don’t want that, we are protecting our facility and we can assure you that soon we will send our surveyors there because we are going to fence it even where has been encroached we are going to claim it back,” Ms Koigu said.
Ms Koigu confirmed that the structures on the dam’s banks are illegal, and the department is deciding the next step.
“We are going to confirm that the Temporary Occupation License (TOL) was cancelled, is no longer valid and on top of that, the TOL cannot override the interest of the owner of the title so that one is null and void.”
The department aims to fence the encroached areas and bring the matter to an end, protecting the facility for the benefit of the city’s residents.
Also read: Taskforce formed to probe why Ndakaini dam is not full, Nairobians not impressed
During a hearing before the committee, a chairperson from the Dam Estate and their lawyer accused Helicopter Ministries Bishop Thomas Wahome of developing houses beyond the marked riparian area.
It was revealed that the TOL being held by Bishop Wahome was invalidated in 2016. Despite promising to appear before the committee, Bishop Wahome failed to show up.
The County surveyor has confirmed that there is a 15-meter riparian reserve from the edge of the Nairobi Dam towards the Helicopter Church.
The committee recommended action to reclaim the land that was illegally grabbed, including the three private plots that sit between the Dam and the estate.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has expressed regret over the poor state of the Nairobi Dam, which used to be a wetland and a source of clean water.
The County Government’s action to reclaim the grabbed land around the dam is a positive step towards preserving this important facility for future generations.
Also read: Sonko: Ndakaini Dam belongs to Nairobi and I have the title deed – VIDEO