Sammy Cheboi
4 November 2008
Nairobi — Owners of buildings earmarked for demolition in Githurai 45 on Thika highway were on Tuesday busy destroying them ahead of the roaring engines of government bulldozers.
The Nation also established that some car bazaars would not be affected by the demolitions after all, because they are not in the way of the planned highway interchange.
Those to be spared the Ministry of Roads demolition squad include Volex General Motors, Sagas, Newnet Motors and Katiba Executive Motors.
Won't be affected
Katiba Executive Motors chairman David Katiba said the land on which the business stands was not part of road reserve and would therefore not be affected.
"We are safe and our customers should be assured that we are in business as usual," Mr Katiba said.
Volex General Motors sales manager Henry Nyamu said the fact they were had not received a quit notice implied they were on safe ground.
While bulldozers were busy bringing down buildings that encroached on road reserve on the highway that is notorious for its traffic jams, owners of buildings in Githurai 45 were demolishing their own to avoid government bills for demolition costs.
Some proprietors said by using human force to demolish them, they would be able to salvage metal grills.
"We have seen how ruthless they are... Before they arrive, we can carefully demolish our buildings so that we can extract some of the building materials that might be useful," a building owner said.
A police perimeter wall on the premises formerly owned by Kenya Breweries Limited were among structures, opposite the General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters in Ruaraka, which were flattened by bulldozers on Tuesday.
A police source supervising the demolitions told the Nation that the law had to be followed even if it affected Government premises. He said the police force had bought the property from KBL three years ago.
"This is a road reserve and we have seen how traffic jams have affected motorists on this road for a long time. With these demolitions, an expanded Thika Road would ease the suffering of motorists," the source said.
Also demolished yesterday in Ruaraka were food kiosks hotels and lodges.
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