Nyayo estate residents protest alleged plans by private developer to grab land

Residents of Nyayo Estate in Embakasi have raised concerns about land grabbing by an unknown developer.

They claim that people pretending to be from the Kazi Mtaani program accessed the piece of land set aside for development of a public school.

The residents say the invaders destroyed a perimeter wall surrounding the land late last year with recent developments indicating subdivision plans.

According to them, the destruction of part of the wall surrounding the Eastern part of the estate and creation of an access road raised the red flag

The Nyayo Estate Residents Association (NERA) has written to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) seeking answers.

In a letter dated February 24, 2021 residents say unknown people have been accessing the open space in Phase 6 of the estate under the guise of Kazi Mtaani.

“Once we got the wind of information we did a formal complaint to NSSF…we never got any feedback. Tunaskia washafanya sub divisions ya 50 by 100…. Penye tunaelekea utaona malori zikikuja na materials hapa. Tusipochunga ndio hii barabara ishajengwa hapa,” Teddy Obiero, the association’s Chairman told Citizen TV.

The residents said this has been the trend. Three open spaces meant to be children’s playing grounds have been grabbed by unknown developers and business structures erected.

This premise indicated plot number 328 for instance was an open space until 2014. Residents claims are backed by the estate map which shows the plot number 305 was meant to be an open space. According to the NERA chairman, plot number 328 is a fabrication and does not exist.

And Nancy Njoki, a resident at Nyayo Estate said: “It’s a concern because we have a few spaces left and apparently they are being taken away…we have to fight for the spaces left
. We grew up here and there were a lot of open spaces and you could explore..My son has to play at car park…mara ohh they hit someones car with the ball and that’s a challenge for us parents.”

Jimmy Gitonga, also a resident, lamented saying: “Hii space ukiangalia ilikuwa ni green space…flats ni mingi na ni muhimu kuwa na playing grounds
.”

Another resident, Coach Dickens Akongo added: “It is unfortunate that hizi viwanja zinataka kunyakuliwa…we want this spaces for our children

.”

The NSSF PR and Communication Manager in a phone interview with Citizen TV rubbished the land grabbing allegations saying NSSF serves the residents interests in the best way it can hence cannot allow grabbing of part of the estate.

Nyayo Estate has close to 5000 houses with more than 30,000 people residing here. They are calling on NSSF to act and save the parcel of land from being grabbed.