Jubilee steals thunder from Kidero in the reopening of Kayole road by KDF
Jubilee leadership in Nairobi has taken credit for resolving a dispute between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the county government over the Mihango-Kayole link road.
The KDF Garrison in Embakasi has in the past one month intensified patrol on the controversial piece of land digging trenches on the road and evicting some 500 quarry workers.
The county government last week obtained a court order stopping KDF from interfering with the construction of Mihango-Kayole road link.
The court order remained unenforced until Wednesday when leaders drawn from Jubilee turned the reopening of the road into a political rally as they accused the county government of plans to grab KDF land.
REOPENING OF ROAD
Majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale criticised Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero for taking KDF to court.
Dr Kidero, who was scheduled to witness the reopening the road, skipped the occasion. But in a statement, Dr Kidero welcomed the reopening of the access route and bridge, terming it a big win for Eastlands residents.
He said the road would reduce traffic congestion, shorten travel distance translating into fare reduction, increase market access to products by traders and business people, and increase property value.
“We all know that KDF whimsically acquired the 5,000 acres, and it is very unfortunate that it had to take the intervention of the President, despite a court order for KDF to reopen the access route,” he said.
LAND GRABBING
“My Government is continuously committed to reclaiming illegally acquired public land in Nairobi. I will do all within my willpower to revert the same for public use.”
But Mr Duale accused the county of plans to grab the land belonging to KDF which led to the dispute.
“We already know that they have grabbed all public schools lands in the county and now they are planning to grab Embakasi land hence the move by KDF to kick the people out,”said Mr Duale.
Mr Duale said that the President had informed him that the military had agreed to fence off the land and build a perimeter wall but leave the road for the people.
He was accompanied by Women Representative Racheal Shebesh, Mathare MP Stephen Kariuki, Emabakasi South MP John Ndirangu, Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, Leader of Minority Nairobi Assembly Abdi Guyo and Mihango MCA Paul Kados.
