Residents to stop construction on Kirima land in Njiru

Chokaa, Mihang'o and Njiru areas in Nairobi County. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Hundreds of residents occupying the disputed Kirima land in Njiru have been directed to cease further construction until the matter is resolved.

This was part of the resolutions following a meeting held on January 10 between Nairobi county government and representatives of the occupants of the land.

The meeting was aimed at ironing out differences with the Kirima family.

In a statement, Acting County Secretary Patrick Analo said that having met the Kirima family and the occupants of the land, the county government advised that some steps must be undertaken.

This, he said, included ascertaining the status of the occupation of each specific parcel of land including a geographical survey depicting settlement as built, valuation for rating and survey as approved scheme among others.

"The importance of undertaking this exercise is to protect sanctity and title and safeguard property rights," the County Secretary said.

"Portions of land designated for public amenities will be appropriately identified and vested with the relevant public institutions," he said.

The meeting also resolved to temporarily halt further development on the land in question until further notice.

"The county government shall refrain from permitting and construction or advancements on the specified parcel," the county said.

In December 2023 Environment and Lands Court found the contested property belongs to the Kirima family.

Those affected are persons who claimed to have been allocated the land by the Commissioner of Lands, Nairobi county government, and others who claimed ownership through adverse possession.

At the same time, the order by the court affects unsuspecting third-party buyers who bought the land from the two groups.

Even so, Kirima family has said that it will not evict occupants of the Njiru land, despite the courts having directed them to do so.

The Kirima family expressed willingness to engage directly with the occupants of the land on the way forward.