Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has confirmed that the land where Tom Mboya Social Hall sits belongs to the government.

This comes after the hall, located in Makadara Constituency along Jogoo Road was demolished by a private developer who claimed ownership of the parcel of land.

Wahome was responding to a question by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who sought to know the real owner of the land where the hall sat.

“Who holds the title deed for the parcel of land on which the Tom Mboya Social Hall in Makadara Constituency in Nairobi City County stands, and could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the ownership history of the said parcel of land?” Siifuna posed.

In response, Wahome revealed that the land was reserved for the Ministry of Public Works for the development of a community hall in 1957.

“The plot where Tom Mboya Social Hall sits was reserved for the Ministry of Public Works for the development of a community hall in June 1957. The plot was leased to KANU for three years, from 1967 on condition that the party pays rent and the land remains government land,” Wahome stated.

“KANU then applied for the allocation of the plot in 1985, a letter of allotment was issued in favour of the party on 12th April 1985 for a term of 99 years with effect from March 1985. Thereafter, KANU did not pay the statutory fees indicated in the allotment letter of 10th of April, 2018. The offer had since lapsed. The parcel having been registered as a social hall should remain as such.”

Wahome, who said the current title deed held by a private developer is irregular, promised to cancel it and revert it to the government.

“I want to confirm standing on this floor that Gami Properties Limited got an irregular allocation and I would proceed to cancel that title,” she added.

Tom Mboya Social Hall demolished

The hall was demolished a month ago under the watch of the police, even as the developer seeks to take over the land.

This is the first time the government has issued a public statement regarding the land since the demolition, almost putting to an end a tussle which has been ongoing between the local community and the developer.

In previous years, the hall has been used by the local community to hold social events as well as politicians and leaders to hold meetings.

In the last few months, the hall has been out of bounds for the public, following the takeover by the developer.