Kisumu County repossess Ofafa Memorial Hall amid Sh86m land rates dispute

The Iconic Ofafa Memorial Hall, located along Kisumu Kakamega-Highway has been repossessed by the county government of Kisumu.

While making the declaration on Friday, Kisumu City manager Abala Wanga said the facility was now in the hands of the County government.

Abala who toured the facility before addressing journalists at the cultural center announced that renovation works will begin tomorrow ( Saturday).

The property belongs to the Luo Council of Elders and is supposed to be managed by a trustee.

The council, which was initially known as Luo Union got the parcel from the government under a 99-year lease agreement signed in 1956.

However, a controversy has been brewing between the divided leadership of the cultural outfit and the County Government of Kisumu over Sh 86 million land rate arrears the county government claims the Elders owe it.

On December 11th, the city authorities issued a demand notice to the council of elders saying the arrears were due in March this year.

The city manager declared on Tuesday that the arrears must be paid by the council or the facility be repossessed.

Ker Odungi Randa who took over the leadership of the council of elders following the death of Ker Willis Otondi last year told the Star that negotiations have begun with the county government to have the issue of pending rates settled.

"We have allowed the city authorities to renovate the building so that it can attract tenants. We will then have money to settle the dues," he said.

He accused the past leadership of the council of elders of having failed to pay the land rates.

However, a faction that is led by Nyandiko Ongadi said the land was allocated by the government for the cultural activities of the Luo community and doesn't attract any land rates.

He said he is reading sinister motives in the whole issue of unpaid land rates, claiming further that there could be plans to take over the facility by individuals he didn't mention.

"I hope this is not a political move. The properties of the council are to be managed by trustees on behalf of the community. It seems some individuals want to grab the portion of the land where Ofafa Memorial Hall stands," he said.

Nyandiko said in a past interview with the Star that part of the land had allegedly been hived off and developed by an individual.

"Why did the past chairmen of the council not ask to pay rates? It is because we had been exempted from paying this particular tax," he said.

Addressing the media outside the Memorial Hall on Friday, the city manager said the city authorities will renovate the main Hall and the other amenities in the facility beginning Saturday.

Abala noted that apart from the renovations, the city of Kisumu will also erect a perimeter wall to secure the cultural centre.

"The building has suffered utter neglect. The ceilings are falling off. The building has not been painted and the tiles are destroyed. The toilets are in a deplorable state. We will fix all these," he said.

He said instead of a trustee, an individual has been collecting rent from the premises and the other businesses but does not pay land rates.

"The place doesn't even have water. They have failed to pay the bills," he said.

He gave traders who had been operating from the Hall's compound until Friday evening to move out.

"Tomorrow ( Saturday) morning, bulldozers will be here to clear the area ahead of the renovation works that will kick off immediately," he said.

"We have agreed to resettle all the traders elsewhere. They have until the close of business today (Friday)," the city manager added

There were kiosks, a club, a church and several car wash businesses dotting the place.

Abala noted that Kisumu has four cultural centers one of which has been upgraded.

"We have since renovated Grace Onyango Social Hall which is now a modern cultural centre. We will do the same at Ofafa Memorial Hall, Kaloleni and Kanyakwar," he said.

He said the planned renovation works at the Ofafa Memorial Hall will be completed by the end of January next year

Abala said the city authorities will begin to talk to the elders after the renovation works are completed by early next year.

"This facility sits in an area we have zoned in our spatial development plan and it can't continue to be an eyesore," he said.

The new development comes as it emerged that the grounds will play host to a major event on December 22.

Ker Odungi Randa who has the backing of opposition chief Raila Odinga is set to be coronated on the same day at Ofafa Memorial Hall compound.

Preparation for the event which will be graced by top political leaders led by Raila himself is on top gear.

On Wednesday, Kisumu governor Prof Anyan'g Nyong'o chaired the Central Committee meeting which is organising the official coronation ceremony.

Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, the outspoken Market Milimani Ward MCA Seth Ochieng Kanga aka Adui Nyang and other leaders attended the meeting.