‘Half of Sagana Town’ set for demolition

The Kenya Railways Corporation has earmarked nearly half of Sagana Town in Kirinyaga County for demolition, local leadership says.

The bringing down of structures in the area is meant to pave way for the rehabilitation of the railway line that connects Nairobi and Nanyuki Towns.

Demolition notices have since been issued to building owners in Sagana Town.

Residents told K24 Digital that Kenya Railways Corporation officials and armed policemen went around Sagana Town on Friday, June 19 marking buildings that would be flattened, and giving demolition notices to occupants.

One of the property owners affected is Muriithi Wachira, who told K24 Digital that he was allocated the parcel of land in the 1950s by the now-defunct Kirinyaga Municipal Council.

“Even when the railway line was busy back in the day, our buildings in Sagana Old Town remained intact. Why does Kenya Railways want to conduct illegal demolitions now?” posed Wachira.

“We have genuine ownership documents for the buildings and land that the railway authority now wants to claim. We have been paying land rates to the Kirinyaga County Government, formerly the Kirinyaga Municipal Council, without defaulting,” he added.

Another resident, Simon Ngirigaca, told K24 Digital, that, just like Wachira, he grew up knowing his father owned the land, which now the Kenya Railways Corporation wants to reclaim.

“The trains would pass here, and my father’s buildings sat on this land that they now want to illegally take from us,” he said.

Kariti MCA, Joel Wagura, said the Kenya Railways Corporation should engage the affected community in consultations before embarking on “illegal” demolitions.

“Half of Sagana Town will be flattened should the Kenya Railways Corporation go ahead with their bulldozing plans,” said Wagura.

The residents now want the railways authority to make available the map they are using to conduct the survey.