Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja keeps his promise to protect public land real after ordering the demolition of a high-rise apartment building allegedly built on a grabbed land in Eastleigh.Â
On Friday, August 4, demolishers demolished the building, which was allegedly built by an unscrupulous businessman and a member of the County Assembly.
Residents complained to Sakaja after the local MCA took public land near Eastleigh Health Centre.
The politician allegedly conspired with another Member of the County Assembly who built the structure that Sakaja’s officials demolished.
Following the demolition, one of the local MCAs accused Sakaja of intimidation and claimed that the county government was on a witch hunt because he exposed fraud and embezzlement of funds.
However, Subcounty Medical Officer Dr Miriam Etole emphasised that the county was mandated to protect public land, especially institutions key in providing health services.
“Eastleigh Health Centre is one of the Public Health Facilities within Kamukunji Sub-County located on three plots along Fourth Street and Muyuyu Lane Eastleigh Second Avenue.
“The facility offers Curative, Maternal Neonatal Child Health Services, Maternity as well Sexual and Gender-Based Violence response unit,” Subcounty Medical Officer Dr Miriam Etole reiterated.
Etole claimed in a letter to the Nairobi County Government’s Health Facilities Chief Officer that the MCA demolished a structure on the hospital’s land before constructing his flat.
“The sub-county medical officer reported that the facility housed the ward administrator’s offices, and the Eastleigh Airbase MCA had requested to set up his office there.” During the Christmas holidays, however, the MCA gained access to the building and demolished it, leaving residents without a health centre,” Etole added.
Sakaja has consistently emphasised the importance of addressing land grabbing within the city and protecting critical government infrastructure.
