Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Paul Maringa is facing a six-month jail term over the demolition of a mansion belonging to Nairobi Businessman Mike Maina.
In April, the businessman won Ksh859 million following the demolition of his mansion in Nairobi’s Spring Valley estate to pave way for a road.
After the ruling, the state was given 90 days to process the payment but failed to follow through.
A report by one of the local dailies on Tuesday, August 25, indicated that High Court Judge John Mativo ordered the PS to pay Maina the money.
Maina’s lawyers claimed that the state had not paid the compensation in an attempt to negotiate with him to accept reduced pay.
The state had argued that the mansion occupied public land and was impeding its expansion.
Bulldozers tore down the eight-bedroom mansion during a period in which Franklin Bett was the minister for Roads.
The tycoon then rushed to court and an initial ruling in December 2017 awarded him Ksh 711 million but he claimed that he never received the money.
The state, at the time, had argued that the money was not disbursed because there was a pending appeal against the Sh711 million payout claiming that it would affect taxpayers.
At the time, the PS argued that the state was disappointed with the initial ruling, claiming that it was clear the mansion occupied land necessary for the construction of the Waiyaki Way-Redhill link road.
Broken down, Ksh 847,277,351 was awarded for the demolished property while Ksh 12,259,342 was to take care of his legal expenses.
In the tussle, the complainant also wanted Attorney General Kihara Kariuki to serve a jail term for a period of six months for reportedly disobeying a court order.
“Accordingly, leave be granted for committal to civil jail for a period of six months the Attorney General and the PS, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and that they be additionally required to pay a fine of such amount as may be ordered by this honourable court for the said contempt,” argued Maina.
