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Residents punch holes in NSSF expense claims


About Sh2.5 billion is enough to put up Tassia estate’s infrastructure, says Moses Adede, an engineer who has for the last four years been providing the answer to the area’s sewer problem.

Mr Adede built the 6-km sewer line which discharges to the main trunk line along Ngong River.

“When I came here in 2004, there weren’t that many people and sewerage was disposed in the open field. As construction increased, however, residents had to build septic tanks.

It was at this time that I was contracted to do 2 kilometres of the line at Sh5 million,” said the man who holds a degree in civil engineering.

This was how his business was born and he has since added 4 kilometres  of sewer line to complete the job. He has had to halt further developments, however, following the uncertainty generated by the NSSF saga.

For each floor, plot owners pay a one-off fee of Sh40,000 to connect to the sewer line.

Mr Adede says residents have never been consulted on the amount NSSF says it will recover from them.

“NSSF is telling us that we will pay Sh92,000 to construct each metre of road and sewer. That should never be the case,” he added.

Samuel Wambiri, who also owns a plot in the area, said their engagement with NSSF should have ended when they competed making payment for the plots.

“Our purchase agreements say nothing of extra payments,” he said.

Wambiri further said he would consider legal action if slapped with a demand for the amount NSSF is demanding.

“So far, we cannot go to court because we have not received any demand for payment from NSSF, but if and when they do, then we’ll consider going to court. The plots were sold as unserviced and this is clearly indicated in the agreements,” he said.

He said he was waiting for his title deed, which he doubted would be out any time, especially with NSSF caught in a bind as it promised to do the infrastructure as a condition for the subdivisions.

According to the NSSF bid documents for the project,  36 kilometre of sewerage network was required. Although Mr Adede’s pipes are slightly narrower than those specified, he said  the network can be done for Sh200 million.