Developers lose out after demolitions

A section of private developers in Thika town are counting huge losses after their houses were flattened following a court order in a protracted prime land dispute.

The six high-rise buildings had been put up on a two-acre land (Thika/Mun/Block 11/863) within Thika town belonging to Baruthi Bundi by unsuspecting buyers in the early 1980s.

But Bundi sought the court’s intervention to have the buildings flattened to facilitate development of his land.

In her ruling, Justice Grace Kemei of Environment and Land Court in Thika ordered that the buildings belonging to 18 appellants be demolished and the agents, employees, servants and or representatives of the claimants be evicted.

“The respondents, their agents, servants, employees, representatives, or anyone acting under or claiming from them be evicted and any building therein be demolished pursuant to the judgement and decree in this suit from the suit premises by issuance of warrants of eviction,” the ruling read.

“That the OCPD and OCS Thika police division and station do ensure compliance with the judgement and decree issued by this honorable court. That I make no orders for costs,” the ruling further read.

Yesterday, tens of businesspersons operating under the buildings woke up to a rude shock after they found major earthmovers and bulldozers flattening the structures.