Property owners and traders along Dar es Salaam Road in Nairobi's Industrial Area are protesting against demolitions of their buildings, a move they claim has been marred with extortion and demands for bribes.
Bulldozers on Monday descended on buildings authorities claim encroached on riparian reserves and partially destroyed two structures.
The buildings are adjacent to a water tunnel authorities say is part of Nairobi River, thus making the land part of the riparian reserves.
Property owners claim they have been asked to part with millions of shillings for their buildings to be spared.
Businessman Suresh Kantaria claimed he had been told to pay a bribe or risk his business premises getting demolished.
"The demolitions that took place on Monday were meant to serve as a warning to those who have not paid the cash they are demanding. I am aware of four building owners who have paid millions in bribes," Kantaria said.
The stretch has 12 business premises including godowns that are marked for demolition.
Boniface Otieno, an employee of one of the business premises, said the demolitions initially started on May 6 when a wall was brought down.
The officials then left. "We thought the demolitions had stopped. Suddenly they came back today at around noon and started demolishing buildings," Otieno said on Monday.
Nita Shet, who owns a hardware, said they bought the land from the government in the 1970s and have a title deed.
"In the 1970s, this area was set aside for industrialisation as it was initially a jungle. The plots were divided and allocated. Whoever was interested bought it," he said.
At that time, there was no river or canal at the back, Shet said.
He said the buildings have not encroached on riparian reserve, given the canal is meant to drain water from the premises and it is not a river as claimed by authorities.
The traders and property owners have since secured court orders, putting on hold any intended demolitions until the matter is heard.
The orders issued by Justice Mogeni Ann Jacqueline of the Environment and Land Court in Nairobi directed that a status quo be observed, pending the hearing of the matter.
The order was issued on May 9 and the matter is set for hearing on June 13, 2024.
However, authorities on Monday proceeded with the demolitions, disregarding the court order.
Only two buildings were partially destroyed before the bulldozers left. Sources said they left after being informed about the court order that had halted the exercise.
"It is sad and very unfortunate because we have stay orders yet people can still do this to you," Shet said.
Shet said the area is not residential and does it pose any risks to people given the canal never floods.
"There are streams, there are canals and there are rivers. Let us know the difference," Shet said.
The traders are now appealing to the government for talks.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki last month ordered demolitions of structures on riparian reserves, following deadly flooding in Mathare where people had encroached and put up shanties on riparian areas.
More than 15 people were killed.
But Kantaria claimed some administrators were taking advantage of the order by the CS to extort property owners.
He said they had been asked to give Sh1 million each in bribes for their buildings to be spared.
"We have refused to give the bribes as demanded," he said.
According to the CS Kindiki order, all structures within 30 metres from the water bodies are to be demolished.
"The government needs to analyse every individual cases before making a decision. It cannot do a blanket 30 metres for everybody," Shet said.
During Monday demolitions, looters took away valuables from the premises.
Employee Paul Kambithi urged the government to have mercy on its citizens.
"We are requesting the government to do something else to help us because hundreds of us are on the verge of unemployment if these premises are demolished," he said.
