Court stops removal of giant billboards
An advertising company has obtained an injunction restraining Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA)and the Nairobi county government from removing its advertisement gantries along major city roads.
Ikon Prints Media Company limited obtained the injunction which shall remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the application or further directions from the court.
A gantry is a metallic framework spanning a road for displaying advertisements.
Among the gantries which the respondent has been restrained from removing include those along Mombasa road and Uhuru Highway near university of Nairobi tunnel.
Through lawyer Patrick Lutta, the advertising company claimed the city government and KeNHA pulled down its gantry along Waiyaki Way despite approval to erect structures and display advertisements on various roads.
Mr Lutta said from information available, the respondents intend to continue with destruction of the company’s gantries specifically those along Mombasa, Pangani and Langata roads.
In the application filed under certificate of urgency, the company claims the continuation of “such illegal and dastardly actions” on the part of the respondents will cause loss not only to it but its customers.
Permission granted
“The petitioner sought and obtained from KeNHA permission to erect gantries along various highways, streets and roads,” read part of the petition filed.
The company claims it was not given any prior notice by the respondents of its intention to bring down the gantry, nor had it received any communication from them since it was brought down.
Ikon Media further claims that the only communication from KeNHA is a statement of apology on its facebook page.
“The destruction of gantries belonging to the petitioner without any notice amounts to deprivation of its property and right over them” read part of the petition.
According to an affidavit of the company’s general manager Mr Chukwuma Nduche, he was informed by a source that the respondents intend to continue with the destruction of the gantries.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Development has also been named as a respondent in the case which will be mentioned today for directions.