Nairobi MCAs demand audit of buildings, land transfers

Members of the Nairobi County Assembly want an audit of all building approvals and land transfers in the capital amid concern that some officials had abused their positions to cut fraudulent deals.

The ward representatives now want Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to investigate issuance of building approvals and acquisition of land in the county since 2010.

This is after the county legislators passed a motion urging the Mohammed Badi-led office to probe officials suspected to be colluding with “cartels” to steal land and contravene standard building plans.

Parklands MCA Jayendra Malde, the sponsor of the motion, raised concerns over increased cases of land grabbing in the county propagated by corrupt officers in the planning department through questionable transfer processes.

“NMS should move with speed to conduct an audit on all public land within the planning and housing department with investigations into the grabbed public spaces dating from 2010,” said Mr Malde.

The MCA cited the recent grabbing of public land in his ward which had been set aside for the construction of level three Highridge public clinic. He called on the county government and NMS to evict the private developers from the spaces and repossess the land back to the public.

“The worst bit is that the relevant county departments who are supposed to stem this vice have remained adamant or complacent,” he said.

Highrise MCA, Kennedy Oyugi said powerful individuals were behind the controversial land grabbing and transfers, reason why it had taken too long for the county to act.

Kayole Central MCA Jeremiah Themendu further accused officials at the planning and housing department of fraudulently and blatantly contravening the standards of the buildings.