The Deputy Governor accused Nasa MCAs of egging residents to encroach the land.
Mr Igathe said traffic snarl ups experienced by Nairobi residents will be a thing of the past once the project is complete.
The Sh14 billion project funded by the World Bank will involve construction of nine railway corridors across Nairobi.
Nairobi County has given notice to illegal encroachers on land meant for the city's light rail project to vacate or face the law.
Speaking during a tour of the ongoing construction of commuter railway stations in Nairobi today, Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe said his government had issued a pre-notice to illegal encroachers living along the railway line to allow for completion of the project.
“We are warning people encroaching on railways land to move out because we are going to use any lawful means to get you out. We are giving you a pre notice to do so, failure to which we will use all available laws to effect the notice,” Mr Igathe said.
Political issue
He also accused Members of County Assembly (MCAs) allied to the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) of being behind the move that has seen a section of Nairobi residents brought to encroach on the land.
“MCAs from the Opposition are bringing people to encroach the railway station to stop development projects. We shall not entertain political interference in the mission of decongesting the city,” he said.
“You cannot expect to just come and construct along the railway line and expect it to continue. That must stop. I am specifically speaking about Donholm where there is political instigation for people to encroach the site.”
Mr Igathe said he is optimistic that traffic snarl ups experienced by Nairobi residents on a daily basis will be a thing of the past once the project is complete.
“Within a year we can start traveling with some semblance of dignity...We want to urge people living in Kitengela, Syokimau, and Mlolongo to start using the railway,” he said.
“We will mobilise very strongly to ensure you leave these sites. This train is not only going to serve one community. Our political culture must change,” added Mr Igathe.
Nairobi estates
The Sh14 billion project funded by the World Bank will involve construction of nine railway corridors whose trains will pick commuters from several estates in Nairobi and drop them at the Railway Station in the city centre.
The nine commuter corridors include Ruiru-Thika, Juja Road-Kangundo, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-Athi River, Lang’ata Road-Karen and Upper Hill-Ngong, Kabete-Kikuyu, Gigiri-Limuru and Outer Ring Road in the city’s Eastlands area.
Mr Igathe added that City Hall will seek to partner with the national government and Kenya Railways to pool resources to create park and ride stations for use by motorists in line with a vision to do away with private cars in the CBD in the next five years.
“In five years, private cars will not be allowed in the city centre because they are the biggest creators of congestion. We will create park and ride stations where matatus will be expected to pick and drop people, using private cars or otherwise, from,”
