Residents of Kilimani Estate in Kisumu are accusing the county government of bias in the ongoing demolitions of houses that have encroached road reserves.
It is said that the Prof. Anyang Nyong’o led county spared a house belonging to an Asian Tycoon Jayesh Patel from demolition despite it being on a road reserve and marked for demolition.
Jayesh Patel, the proprietor of Jumbo Foam Mattress is alleged to have been trying to evade justice to avoid demolition of his house which has blocked a three metre pathway off Jobita Road kilimani.
All the other buildings marked for demolition have been demolished.
Kisumu County Government gave a vacate notice on two parcels of land on 17th December 2020. The two parcels being Kisumu/Block 8/259 and Kisumu/Block 8/211, are said to have sealed off a planned road. One is Mr Patel’s.
However, the county Government went ahead and brought down walls of one of the residents parcel while Mr Patel’s stood untouched.
In defense of himself, Mr Patel claimed that he had bought the property over ten years ago, and did not know that it was sitting on a road reserve.
He further claimed that blockage of the road is due to security of his premises.
Letters
A letter by County Director of Surveys Rogers Kobado indicates that the three-metre-wide pathway passing through parcel numbers Kisumu/Block 8/259 and Kisumu/Block 8/211, connecting Jobita road with an adjacent road had been blocked by a stone wall.
The letter which was addressed to the Chief Officer Lands, Surveys and Physical Planning also noted that despite the perimeter fences of the two parcels having been clearly defined, a block fence had been illegally constructed, sealing off the road.
“By this letter, I hereby confirm that the proprietor can be addressed to open the right of access as defined by this official map,” read the letter in part.
Affected residents now claim that Mr Patel may have compromised the county government so as to avoid demolition of his residential house.
“This is unfair. How can our premises be demolished, but that of Patel left untouched even after being marked to have encroached on the road? This is unfair,” said one of the neighbours.
City Manager Abala Wanga indicated that he had visited the site and admitted that Patel’s house had encroached the road.
He however said after discussions, the proprietor said the road had been sealed because of security reasons.
Locals however insist the house be brought down.
“Several people have suffered due to the ongoing demolitions in the town. Why are some people given opportunity to be heard even after it is found that they encroached on public land?” complained one of the residents.
