Economy

KURA to demolish building along Mombasa road

DNKURA0307f

Commercial building that houses Ramtons and Maersk companies along the Mombasa Road/City Cabanas interchange in this picture taken on July 3, 2014. The building will be demolished to pave way for the road expansion. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority plans to demolish a commercial building that has stalled a major road project along Nairobi's Mombasa Road, officials say.

The building, owned by Compar Ltd, is holding up work on a Sh2.5 billion interchange at the City Cabanas-Mombasa Road junction where the Eastern bypass meets Mombasa road.

It houses shipping company Maersk Group and household goods firm Ramtons.

Kura says the interchange is expected to enable motorists on the Eastern bypass join Mombasa road on their way to the city centre. Roads authority officials say the building sits on a power line way-leave and should be brought down. The dispute over its demolition forced Kura to construct a temporary road to connect Kiang’ombe estate to Mombasa Road.

Kura Director General Joseph Nkadayo said on a site visit, “The case is awaiting determination at the National Land Commission. Once it is done, we shall move fast and demolish it.”

ALSO READ: Swazuri rejects verbal Sh1.3bn by-pass land pact

Previous reports indicated that five of some 25 land owners in the area required for the interchange refused to allow road-works to begin on their property until they had been compensated for their land and any buildings on it.

Development plans for the area obtained from the directorate of Physical Planning, Nairobi City County Government, Kenya Power Company and Kura indicate that the disputed portion is actually a power line way-leave.

Compar Ltd has, however, defended their title deed as genuine during proceedings at the Lands commission.

Mr Nkadayo said: “Nairobians continue to suffer due to the blocked road yet the design of the proposed interchange is a masterpiece of civil engineering comprising three loops and one slippage.”