Nairobi South B residents have warned against interference in a contested market land.
Through their ward representative Waithera Chege, they want leaders outside the ward to keep off as the public land has been earmarked for market and public commercial use.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Waithera claimed she was aware that some individuals were mobilizing youths to cause violence over the matter and has since informed the police.
“I am not going to allow land grabbers to cause chaos and mayhem in my ward. I will not allow disturbance of peace for Nairobi South residents,” she vowed.
The leader revealed that she has informed Nairobi regional commander Adamson Bungei and the deputy Inspector General of Police of people allegedly organizing violence in her ward.
Waithera who is also the Nairobi County Assembly Deputy Minority Leader, has called on the police not to allow any foreign persons besides the traders to occupy the land.
In August 2023, there was an uproar after it was reported that goons had allegedly been sent to demolish the structures that were erected on the contested land.
Residents pulled down the fence and the area has not been occupied up to date.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in a letter dated September 19, 2023, had notified the Nairobi county of a probe about the alleged land grabbing.
The DCI requested the county to furnish them with copies of survey plans, minutes of allocation, beacon certificates, letter of allotment and any other information that may assist in their investigations.
By this time, already, a petition by MCA Waithera was before the county assembly planning and housing committee over the matter. The petition had signatures of more than 400 South B residents.
“That the modern market would benefit residents mostly by increasing employment opportunities, increasing quality of production, creating an environment for healthy competition and increasing consumer status,” the petition read.
In September, South B residents protested against the alleged land grabbing.
They were joined by their MCA and former Starehe MP Charles Njagua, who urged the county and national governments to protect the land meant for the construction of the only market in the ward.
This was after an alleged security officer came to the contested land claiming that matters on the disputed land had been settled.
The following month, the Nairobi county government declared that the contested land, LR NO 209/12612, belonged to the community.
Since then, the land has not been occupied.
Waithera called upon the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to withdraw police officers manning the land as the matter was cleared by the county.