Netizens celebrate Airgate Center’s demolition
The online community has welcomed the ongoing demolition of Airgate Centre – previously known as Taj Mall – which commenced on Saturday at dawn.
The owner of the building, which is located in Embakassi area, had been given 14 days to bring it down since it encroached on a road reserve hindering its expansion.
Tenants at the mall were also then given two weeks notice to vacate the premises. The notice elapsed on August 31.
The owner, Rameshchandra Govino Gorasia, however remained defiant and even dared the government to go ahead and demolish it.
Demolition of the Taj Mall ongoing. @ntvkenya pic.twitter.com/BVHGnabEYV
— Watson Karuma (@watts2k) September 15, 2018
The demolition commenced on Saturday at 6:30am when the green excavator nicknamed ‘Sany’ descended on the building as a heavy police presence in the area to kept away members of the public.
The demolition of Airgate Centre is the latest in a series of demolitions that have been carried out in Nairobi in recent weeks.
Other buildings which have been brought down in Nairobi include South End Mall, Java House and Shell Petrol Station in Kileleshwa, Nakumatt UKay as well as a section of Oshwal Centre in Parklands.
On Twitter many users seemed to happy with the demolition of the building.
07:46 Rest in pieces Taj Mall. Impunity loved you but Sany loved you more. via @MiteiRober
— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) September 15, 2018
If Taj Mall goes down today, i will humbly pay the 8% VAT and won’t complain any more.
— Mahenia Sam (@MaheniaSam) September 15, 2018
If Taj Mall goes down today, i will humbly pay the 8% VAT and won’t complain any more.
— Mahenia Sam (@MaheniaSam) September 15, 2018
If it were not for twitter,airgate Mall could not have been demolished. Next is Weston hotel and standard media house
— Barmasa Barmasa (@BarmasaBarmasa) September 15, 2018
Taj Mall was an emblem of impunity. I remember the owner even dared Uhuru Kenyatta to bring it down. Such impunity is tragic, even unfortunate. This country must make the cost of impunity so high as Uhuru has done with Taj Mall and the riparian lands. We hope more will come down.
— O S I A N Y®?? (@DavidOsiany) September 15, 2018
I know I’m late but I had to post this, unbelievable, Sany woke up early from hibernation to tear down Taj Mall, praise the Lord members of the congregation! pic.twitter.com/MtlBoNAvre
— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) September 15, 2018
But there are also those who looked at it differently.
Finally Taj Mall is brought down. But the big question is- Outering Road is already complete and operational, what’s the purpose of demolishing such an investment that could have been used to generate income for the STATE in this harsh economic times? pic.twitter.com/XeoK8qK4H5
— Kelvin Mutwiwa (@kelvino_mutwiwa) September 15, 2018
Taj Mall going down.. Govt diverting attention of Kenyans from police uniform scandal, from proposed 8% VAT and burrying the issue of Sharon Otieno pic.twitter.com/vkRF3HhbHk
— The Kenyan Parrot ?? (@TheParrotKE) September 15, 2018