Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has dismissed claims that he is holding two title deeds related to some housing projects in Nairobi saying the documents are being held by the bank.
The former County boss has now come out guns blazing accusing some senior county officials of misleading the Nairobi County Assembly and the General public on the matter.
The Former Governor at the same time said the officials gave the wrong account of the matter regarding the ownership of the affordable land title deeds in Pangani and Jeevanjee.
“The title was taken to the bank as a special purpose vehicle, to secure financing,” Sonko said.
The former governor was addressing the media at his Upper Hill office, in Nairobi on Thursday.
During the address, Sonko highlighted a letter from the bank in question dated January 1, 2023, which he claimed confirmed the disbursement of Sh1.9 billion to the project’s private developer.
Sonko alleges that the bank approved the loan after the property had been charged.
During his term, Sonko’ said his administration reportedly compensated 48 house owners at Old Pangani Estate with Sh28.8 million, clearing the way for the construction of 1,500 affordable housing units.
Each tenant, he claims, received Sh600,000 to facilitate their relocation, with the understanding that they would be given priority upon the project’s completion.
Sonko also clarified that the provisional certificate for the land was issued on July 2, 2016, before it was transferred from the colonial land registry to the Nairobi County Government on July 1, 2018, under a 99-year lease.
He urged the Nairobi County Government and the County Assembly to verify the information with the Ministry of Lands.
“If they delay, they will only create more confusion. The transfer of the lease was finalized on July 24, 2019, and witnessed by key officials, including the County Secretary and directors of Nairobi Jeevanjee Estate Limited,” Sonko stated.