By Athman Ibrahim
Residents and owners of residential houses along Taza Lane, off City Park Drive, Parklands, are shocked and dismayed with fully armed Administration Police officers who started supervising and controlling construction of a 14-floor apartment building on L.R. No. 209/7549 City Park Drive immediately after the Environment and Land Court in Nairobi found senior County Government officers guilty of contempt of court orders that stopped any further developments on the plot.
The police officers are dropped at the site in cars with private registration numbers immediatly take charge to control vehicles delivering construction materials and also directing hundreds of workers who are in a hurry to finish the development.
On 25the January 2024 , Hon Justice Angote found several senior county officers, the owner/developer of the property and other proffesionals guilty of contempt and ordered them to appear personally in court on 19th February 2024 for mitigation and sentencing.
The police officers were on duty even when Mr. Patrick Analo (the acting Nairobi City County Secretary), Mr. Stephen Gathuita Mwangi (the NCCG-CECM Member), Mr. Richard Mumo (Director, Land & Urban Planning), Mr. Fredrick Ochanda and other top officers, and who were found guilty of the contempt charge, visited the site to confirm whether construction was still on-going.
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“It was really annoying and disgusting to see Nairobi County Senior officers witnessing the ongoing construction when they are fully aware of the court orders stopping construction, yet taking no steps to enforce the order. I almost threw a stone at one of those officers who kept smiling and telling his colleagues that ‘hii ni sawa, hapa kumenona’,” says one of the workers on site who is equally dismayed by disobedience of the court orders.
The police officers appear to be sent from their head office, with their travel and other allowances being met by the two lead developers i.e. Ameey Homes Ltd and Sustainable Development Solutions Ltd.
A letter to IGP and IPOA by the residents’ lawyers informing them of these activities that are aiding and abetting commission of illegalities, has not been acted on, despite receipt being acknowledged.
Read also: We are Untouchable- Baitul Hikma Schools Tell Off Residents“We have orally followed on this issue with both the IGP and County Govt officers and the response from both offices is in the line of ‘court orders cant stop ‘development’, and we really have nothing to fear”.
The police officers have told our reporter that their instructions are to remain on site until construction work is complete and the apartments fully occupied.
