By Shadrack Nyakoe
Busines people in Industrial area have petitioned the Nairobi City County Assembly to compel the NMS to stop the construction of a Bridge across Ngong river on Pokomo road.
The busines people said the contractor, M/S Noordin Enterprises while excavating around the riverine area, burst major sewer line, and cut one of the main electricity cables.
“On contacting the incidence Management Unit at (NEMA) and the National Construction Authority (NCA), they said they were not aware and stopped the project,” said Samar Al-Kindy the Director of Impressions Advertising.
Her company premises have been adversely affected by the construction.
Appearing before the Nairobi City County Assembly Transport Committee, she said there was no Environmental Impact Assessment carried out.
On 3rd December 2029, Impressions Advertising was granted permission to construct an access road off Witu road in Industrial area to serve LR number 37/5411.
Samar paid shs 10,000 as inspection fee and it was receipted as storm water and drainage fee by the County Government.
She told the MCAs that her Company then spent millions to construct an access road.
Samir added that later, the NMS decided to construct a bridge across Anti Marararial Drain on Pokomo lane which are adjacent to her property.
She added that a Senior official in the NMS told her that her access road will be removed and the section adjacent to her premises used to divert traffic to Lusaka road.
She has protested the move in a letter to NMS.
On 28th January 2020, the County Chief officer for Roads F.N Karanja warned her not to interfere in the project.
“Sagoo holdings limited are informed to relocate the fence near the drain by 20 meters inside to allow contractor working space along the drain verge, “read a letter addressed to her by Karanja.
She added that despite the complaints to various government institutions, the contractor is still on site and has ignored them.
Samar Al-Kandy stated that the sewer overflow has not only caused health hazards but also damage to her equipment as waste overflowed to the premise interrupting operations for two days.
“For over ten years since we purchased the property, we have never experienced the overflow of the sewerage despite long rains, we believe the construction of the bridge has interfered with drainage,” she said.
She pleaded with county government in conjunction to Nairobi Metropolitan Service to investigate the matter and halt construction of the bridge.
“If they want the bridge to stop yet its 90% complete, that’s okay. I’m ready to comply by the directive from the NMS and County Government,” said Contractor Quresho Mohammed of Noordin Enterprises Limited.
Quresho rubbished the claims that he colluded MCAs and police officers and prevented NEMA and NCA officials from visiting the site.
Utalii Ward MCA Wilson Ocholla said the County needs to compensate Al-Kandy as a parking lot has been established at her property where county government collects revenue.
The chairperson for transport committee James Mwangi who is the MCA for Kiamaiko ward said they will visit the site before making a decision.
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