Ministry of Lands told to keep off probe into ownership of disputed Parklands property
The Ministry of Lands has been warned against interfering with investigation on the determination of the ownership of the piece of land in Parklands where a family forcefully evicted.
This comes at a wake of a court order issued to National Lands Commission to stop probing the unlawful demolishing a residential house belonging to Sadrudin Habib Kassam Kurji, who is said to have lived there for 20 years on December 4th 2016.
Three senior officers from the ministry have raised concern with the interference of the case by the Principal Secretary Mariamu Elmaawy who has issued letters to them.
One of the letters to the senior official has been given 21 days by the ministry to show cause why he was allegedly involved in the issuance of the title deed L.R No 1870/1/337 which is leased in the name Frank Logistic Limited.
The three who refused to be named since they were implicated in the case said that the PS Ms Elmaawy was interfering with the independence of the National Lands Commission and trying to undermine and intimidate officers and curtailing their mandate.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
“In view of the seriousness of this allegation, you are hereby called to show-cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on the account of your alleged action,” reads the letter.
The letter added that if he did not respond within 21 days disciplinary action would be taken without further reference to them.
Another official alleged to have been involved in the case from the ministry of lands also received a compulsory leave to take effect from December 22, 2016.
“While on leave you are directed to keep off your duty station and you should not perform any official duties,” reads the other letter. The letters are dated December 21, 2016.
Speaking on phone the PS Ms Elmaawy declined to comment on the issue saying she was not at the office at the moment.
INTERESTED PARTIES
“Let me not say anything as of now please,I am not in the office,’said Ms Elmaawy.
The NLC on December 6th 2016 said that they had received complaints from various interested parties regarding the land — Land Reference Number 1870/1/337 and 1870/1/338 — located along Jalaram road in Parklands.
Nairobi county had conducted investigation and had confirmed that the disputed land in Westland that had its property destroyed belong to Mr Nazmudin Kurji family also wrote to NLC over the same to be furnished with the with the number of leases it has renewed.
Dr Evans Kidero told journalist that although the lease had expired since it was given in 1904 no other party had applied for its and hence the reason to demand NLC for the list of renewals.
Mr Francis Nyaga Njeru of Frank Logistics was arrested over the incident and the case is ongoing.
