Westlands MP Wanyonyi puts land grabbers on notice

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 12 Nov, 2022 22:23 | 2 mins read
westlands wanyonyi
Tim Wanyonyi. PHOTO/Courtesy

Westlands Member of Parliament (MP) Tim Wanyonyi has cautioned land grabbers who are allegedly stealing public land in his constituency.

Speaking at Bohra Primary School in Westlands, Nairobi county, the legislator affirmed that he would enforce stringent measures to arrest perpetrators grabbing land from members of the constituency.

“We shall spare no legal effort in dealing with this menace in Westlands Constituency. No public land will be grabbed, no citizen will be denied access to their rightfully acquired property. Justice must prevail,” he said.

Wanyonyi also condemned the auctioneers who destroyed the home of a family in Westlands last week and pledged to look into the matter.

“The home which they have lived in for 46 years was raided and vandalized by crooks claiming ownership. Innocent people and institutions have become victims and these cartels must be stopped,” he said.

Westland's house demolished

The Avani Shah family home in Westlands Area along School Lane was allegedly demolished by auctioneer Zachary Baraza.

Baraza was later freed on a Ksh200,000 bond after Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe ruled that officers had failed to demonstrate that the auctioneer was a flight risk.

The demolished house in Westlands. PHOTO/Courtesy

"I do not believe the investigators need 14 days to record witness statements. Even if I'm to accept the reasons given by the DCI as to why he needs time to do a search at the land registry or value the land to get the exact valuation of the damage or record witness statements, the question that I have to ask myself is, does the respondent need to remain in custody while this is going on, "the Magistrate ruled.

Baraza was ordered to report to the investigating officers whenever he is summoned.

Shah family on ownership

In a previous interview, the Shah family maintained that they are the legal occupants since their lease to the land is still valid.

They added that they are still in possession of a court order dated November 1, 2022, which directs that the plaintiff (Lariak Properties) be restrained from trespassing or interfering with their possession of the land.

It is said that a search at the registrar of companies showed that Lariak Properties was registered in 2002 and has four directors namely Nathaniel Kipkemboi Barmasai, Samuel K. Chepkwony, John Kamaiyoa Rotich, and Joel Kiplangat who are said to be connected to a high profile person in the country.

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