Kariobangi property owners sue Kenya Roads Authority over Outer Ring demolitions

Artistic impression of the Outer Ring Road in Eastlands that was commissioned by the President in January, 2015.

NAIROBI: Seven Kariobangi residents have moved to court seeking to have the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) stopped from demolishing their properties.

This comes shortly after Kura marked eight structures at Kariobangi Light Industries on Outer Ring Road for demolition.

The road expansion has been long in coming.

But the property owners say identification and marking of structures for demolition has been done without following laid down procedures of acquisition.

"Marking the road for demolition and attempting to destroy the property in an act of acquisition to construct the Outer Ring Road without adhering to the laid down procedures is a violation of our rights to enjoy unrestricted access to the property," Elias Mwangi Ndirangu, one of the petitioners, stated.

STATUS QUO

They said the property was not on Government land or any road reserve.

High Court judge Mumbi Ngugi ordered the status quo remains until the matter is heard on June 11 for further directions.