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Reprieve for Seefar apartment owners as Nema changes its mind

By NYABOGA KIAGE October 16th, 2018 1 min read

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has extended a vacation notice handed to Seefar apartment occupants.

On Friday last week, Nema and the Water Resources Management Authority issued a 14 day vacation notice to occupants of the building located in Nyayo Highrise Estate.

Nema has now extended the vacation notice by 30 days to November 11 in order to allow for “consultation and investigation”.

In a letter on Tuesday, Nema said that the demolition order was still on, but the vacation notice had been extended.

“Please note the order still holds but however, the notice is extended to thirty days to allow consultation and investigations to guide the Authority’s decision,” read part of the letter signed by David Ongare, the Director General Nema.

The building, built by Edermann Property, is said to sits on Nairobi Dam’s riparian reserve.

Nema holds that the building was put up in contravention of Cap 387 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA).

The residential apartment in Nairobi's Nyayo Highrise estate which the authorities want brought down. Notice part of Nairobi dam in the background on the far right. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE
The residential apartment in Nairobi’s Nyayo Highrise estate which the authorities want brought down. Notice part of Nairobi dam in the background on the far right. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE

Already, tenants and owners who had bought units have condemned its planned demolition.

Renting a unit costs between Sh 38,000 and Sh 45,000, while buying an apartment costs Sh6 million for two bedroom house and Sh8 million for three bedroom houses.

The building was commissioned by the then Housing minister Soita Shitanda in 2013.