A dairy cooperative society in Makueni is fighting to save its structures from being demolished by the county government.
Through a 14-day notice issued on April 30 by the Department of Lands and Urban Development, Kikima Dairy Farmers Cooperative Ltd is required to remove the structures and other physical elements from a road reserve it occupies in Kikima Market within Mbooni Sub-county.
The department notes that the cooperative developed and occupied a road reserve without authority from the county government.
"You are hereby required to remove the structures and other physical elements within the period of 14 days from the date of this notice failure to which the County Government of Makueni May enter into the said Land and execute the requirements as outlined herein," reads part of the notice signed by the CEC Julius Kaloi.
The building marked for demolition houses machines worth more than Sh80 million.
Some of the machines were installed by the county government.
However, the society has written to the county government asking for consultations to save the property.
In a letter to the department dated on May 18, the society seeks consultations with the county government to look for alternative road and save the cooperative's property.
Chief Officer for Lands Alex Nthiwa said the property stands on a road reserve but said they had suspended the demolition as they look for alternative for the road.
"We received their letter and agreed that we will look for a solution together because it is them who requested for the market planning," Nthiwa told The Star.
The society is in denial that the property stands on a road reserve. "It would be a futile exercise for a county government to have pumped so much money in the property then demolish it," reads part of the latter copied to Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr, Mbooni MP Erastus Kivasu and Mbooni MCA Alexander Mulemba.
"We humbly request the concerned the departments to suspend the notice temporarily to allow stakeholders to map out the way forward and reach into an amicable solution," it reads.
The society chairlady Matilder Muendo said more than 3,000 members who depend on the diary risk losing their income if the property will be demolished.
She said the dairy cooperative, started by a Danish NGO in 1974, is the only cottage industry in Mbooni Sub-county and caters for more than 800 households, generating an income of Sh1 per month.
"We are appealing to Governor Kivutha Kibwana to intervene and resolve the issues surrounding the property that is depended on by the people of Mbooni Sub-county majority of which are women," she said.
A building hosting Krep Bank is also among other buildings marked for demolition.
Kavivya Muema, the secretary general of the Makueni County Cooperatives Union and a dairy farmer, said even though they support proper planning of the town, they were against destruction of property.