The Nation (Nairobi)
Jonathan Manyindo
26 October 2009
Nairobi — A plot repossession exercise has sparked a fresh row between the county council of Taita Taveta and defaulters over what they call double standards.
About 200 defaulters whose plots were advertised for reallocation have protested and threatened to go to court to block the council's decision after influential personalities were exempted from applying afresh.
About 200 defaulters whose plots were advertised for reallocation have protested and threatened to go to court to block the council's decision after influential personalities were exempted from applying afresh.
The council had set a condition that anyone who wished to salvage his or her plot to pay Sh1,700 non-refundable application fee but the rule was secretly bent to offer preferential treatment to the high and mighty.
Trouble started two weeks ago when two former Permanent Secretaries, an MP, a former minister's family and a few other prominent businessmen were exempted from the condition and allowed to pay their arrears without applying the set terms and conditions.
Their names were immediately struck off the defaulters list that is pinned on the public notice board at the council offices in Wundanyi.
The council had set a condition that anyone who wished to salvage his or her plot to pay Sh1,700 non-refundable application fee but the rule was secretly bent to offer preferential treatment to the high and mighty.
Trouble started two weeks ago when two former Permanent Secretaries, an MP, a former minister's family and a few other prominent businessmen were exempted from the condition and allowed to pay their arrears without applying the set terms and conditions.
Their names were immediately struck off the defaulters list that is pinned on the public notice board at the council offices in Wundanyi.
A defaulter Mr Elias Mjomba said yesterday that he was shocked to discover that some people were being given preferential treatment.
"I have pleaded with the council to allow me pay the amount of money owed and have my late brother's plot back but the cashier said he was under instruction not to receive the money," he said.
He said this was after some former senior government officials were allowed to pay their debts unconditionally.
"We fall under the same category and I do not see the reason why they should be treated as first class citizens while the poor were subjected to undergo a different condition," he said.
The deadline is set for October 31.
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