Lawyer Stephen Kipkenda rose to the ranks of a ruthless land grabber and member of a dreaded cartel when he represented the former powerful Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott through his Kipkenda and Company Advocates.
Even years after Biwott’s death, Mr. Kipkenda remains a powerful man executing atrocious grabbing of land, demolition of properties and eviction of Kenyans he considers weak or treats as second-class citizens.
He is the man behind the recent ruthless demolition of the Avani family’s matrimonial home in Westlands, Nairobi. He forcefully broke into the compound of Avani Shah and Niraj Shah which is located on School Lane in Spring Valley suburb last Friday.
Taking advantage of their Asian background, Kipkenda hired irate goons to flatten the family’s four bed-roomed bungalow and forcibly kicked out them out over land dispute. Shahs are now strangers in a place they inherited from their late parents and have called home for more than two decades.
“While driving home from work, I passed over thirty people walking towards our home without knowing they were going to target my house. I entered the compound, closed the gate but minutes later, people jumped over the gate, broke the padlock and let others in.” Avani said.
One Zachary Barasa, an auctioneer, who was among the demolition squad told Mrs. Avani that he had come to evict them, claiming that Lariak Properties Ltd had bought the house from Metro Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Mrs. Avani’s attempts to get assistance from Gigiri, Parklands and Spring Valley police stations to stop the destruction of their house hit a brick wall.
Metro pharmaceutical is owned by a company associated with Mrs. Avani’s husband while Lariak Properties was registered in 2002 under four directors including Joel Kipchirchir Kiplagat, John Kimaiyo Rotich, Samwel Chepkwony and Nathaniel Kipkemboi.
Lariak Properties trashed a notice by Nairobi City County and court order issued on November 3, 2022 by Milimani Commercial Court which directed that Avani Shah Family should not be evicted their home.
Barasa also turned in with another court order dated October 18. Both orders are signed by the same magistrate, H M Ng’ang’a, and they all cautioned against evicting the Avani’s and one of the order directed Spring Valley and Parklands OCSs to ensure that the orders are complied with.
Mrs Avani said Metro pharmaceutical has nothing to do with Lariak Properties as the home was owned by her late father whose name is in the title deed. She explained that they don’t owe any group or company money and her husband, Mr. Niraj Shah, also added that the lease for the property was renewed in 1998 and is valid for 50 years.
Mr. Barasa has since been freed on a Sh. 200, 000 bail and ordered to report to the investigating officers whenever he is summoned to do so.
