Police stay put on Sh3bn estate in spite of order
The Government has vowed to hand over a Sh3 billion housing estate to the police in spite of protests from a women’s group that claims ownership.
Public Works Secretary Moses Nyakiongora said the State would proceed to hand over the West Park housing estate, near Wilson Airport, to the police in spite of a court order in favour of Wilson Mitumba Women Group.
The order issued by the Milimani Magistrate’s Court in August last year, directed that seven officers be evicted from House No. 16 on LR. NO.209/14582, which also houses the West Park police post. The property, ruled the court, belonged to the women’s group.
Mr Nyakiongora, however, maintained that the Government would retain the houses. “Currently, 307 units have been handed over to the police with 72 to follow in the next three weeks. The rest will be handed over before the end of June,” said Mr Nyakiongora.
By the end of June, the ministry plans to hand over 595 units, but Mitumba Women Group will hear none of that.
Several attempts by the self-help group to get the officers evicted have borne only bitter fruits. A November 2013 attempt resulted in 26 of the group members being arrested and charged with creating disturbance.
Group official Cecilia Wanjiru defended their claim. “Are we mad to claim ownership of a police station, we have records that substantiate our claim and that is why the court ordered the eviction, we just want the rule of law to prevail.”
Initial construction
The land on which the estate and the police post stand, said Ms Wanjiru, was donated to the group by former President Moi, while the initial construction was funded by an Irish organisation.
“Just ask the police whether they know who funded the initial construction by Mugoya Construction Company,” said Wanjiru.
The case was first heard by former magistrate Grace Macharia, now a judge of the High Court. In December 2010, the group sued the Government seeking orders to have police evicted from the property.
Mr Justice Mohammed Warsame on December 15, 2010, went to see the houses, allegedly developed by Goal Organisation of Ireland between 1990 and 1992, for the women’s group.
Mr Nyakiongora rubbished the claim by the women, saying as far as he was concerned the estate was on public land.
Structural adjustment
“This development started in the 1989 as a full housing project for civil servants, and due to the structural adjustment programmes imposed by the World Bank, the project stalled but was restarted after 2003,” Mr Nyakiongora added.
Langata police boss Titus Yoma had earlier acknowledged existence of an eviction order, but said it was for a different plot.
Police Spokesman Zipporah Mboroki defended the Government’s decision to hand over the houses to the officers.
that claims ownership.
Public Works Secretary Moses Nyakiongora said the State would proceed to hand over the West Park housing estate, near Wilson Airport, to the police in spite of a court order in favour of Wilson Mitumba Women Group.
The order issued by the Milimani Magistrate’s Court in August last year, directed that seven officers be evicted from House No. 16 on LR. NO.209/14582, which also houses the West Park police post. The property, ruled the court, belonged to the women’s group.
Mr Nyakiongora, however, maintained that the Government would retain the houses. “Currently, 307 units have been handed over to the police with 72 to follow in the next three weeks. The rest will be handed over before the end of June,” said Mr Nyakiongora.
By the end of June, the ministry plans to hand over 595 units, but Mitumba Women Group will hear none of that.
Several attempts by the self-help group to get the officers evicted have borne only bitter fruits. A November 2013 attempt resulted in 26 of the group members being arrested and charged with creating disturbance.
Group official Cecilia Wanjiru defended their claim. “Are we mad to claim ownership of a police station, we have records that substantiate our claim and that is why the court ordered the eviction, we just want the rule of law to prevail.”
Initial construction
The land on which the estate and the police post stand, said Ms Wanjiru, was donated to the group by former President Moi, while the initial construction was funded by an Irish organisation.
“Just ask the police whether they know who funded the initial construction by Mugoya Construction Company,” said Wanjiru.
The case was first heard by former magistrate Grace Macharia, now a judge of the High Court. In December 2010, the group sued the Government seeking orders to have police evicted from the property.
Mr Justice Mohammed Warsame on December 15, 2010, went to see the houses, allegedly developed by Goal Organisation of Ireland between 1990 and 1992, for the women’s group.
Mr Nyakiongora rubbished the claim by the women, saying as far as he was concerned the estate was on public land.
Structural adjustment
“This development started in the 1989 as a full housing project for civil servants, and due to the structural adjustment programmes imposed by the World Bank, the project stalled but was restarted after 2003,” Mr Nyakiongora added.
Langata police boss Titus Yoma had earlier acknowledged existence of an eviction order, but said it was for a different plot.
Police Spokesman Zipporah Mboroki defended the Government’s decision to hand over the houses to the officers.