BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
Youths from Kiamumbi village in Kiambu County have appealed to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the County Government of Kiambu to stop a developer from grabbing a riparian land.
They said the developer wants to build rental houses and a garage.
The land in contention is on Kamiti road next to Kiu River.
James Maina, the youth’s representative said they approached NEMA and the defunct County Council of Kiambu who gave them a go ahead to plant trees and run a carwash on the land.
“We planted all these trees that you are seeing here more than ten years ago.” He said.
However, last week, the developer uprooted some trees and destroyed five thousand seedlings.
Maina said they have complied with NEMA conditions including not to pollute the river.
“We have been paying license fees to the County Government of Kiambu too. This business has employed 25 youths and benefits more than 100 dependents. We cannot allow this kind of impunity where the rich want to displace us from a public property.” Maina said.
Maina added that the riparian land where the carwash is located is not part of one Kahumburu’s plot.
According to the youths, the land is being grabbed by one Charles Kahumburu Kamau.
They said Kahumburu has a plot next to the one they have been operating on and that he should not claim ownership of a public land.
“He should confirm the boundaries of his plot and stop misleading his lawyer and the tenant.” Maina said.
According to a lease agreement in possession of Hot News signed by a Kiambu based lawyer Samuel Waithuki Ngugi, the riparian zone has been leased to Peter Kimari Githaiga for five years starting August 10,2019.
The tenancy agreement indicates Charles Kahumburu Kamau is “the landlord.”
Githaiga will be paying a monthly rent of Ksh 35 000(thirty-five thousand) to Kahumburu.
The property measures approximately a quarter of an acre.
Its title is Kiambu/Municipality block 5(Kiamumbi)/1508.
According to the lease agreement, the tenant will plant water friendly vegetation on the clearly marked riparian area and keep tending them.
Contacted for comment, Kiambu Deputy governor James Nyoro urged the youths to report the matter to the police.
“This is a court case. I advise the youth to report the case to the police.” He said through a text message.
Maina said they have reported the matter several times at Kiamumbi police station and the police have failed to act.
The latest report was ob number 21/20/08/2019.
He said they have lost business as a result of dumping of heaps of red soil at the car wash
by the developer.