https://youtube.com/shorts/VDW4YqnKyTc?si=hPMbQkr20ESPz16XA wave of fear is sweeping through Parklands after remarks by President William Ruto signaled a firm crackdown on buildings erected on riparian land.
An investor who spoke to this publication said that he recently paid millions for a unit only to be recently informed that it was marked for demolition.
” I ‘m so mad with some home builders, i recently paid Sh36million for a unit, not more than six months ago but today, i got some scaring information that it has been marked for demolition. Where will i get my money? “. He said
What was once considered prime real estate is now under scrutiny, with authorities indicating that structures located on protected river reserves will not be spared.
*We could lose everything*
Homeowners and landlords near the Kibagare River and Mathare River are living in uncertainty, fearing imminent demolitions.
Many of the affected properties, now confirmed to be within restricted riparian zones, were constructed in violation of environmental and planning laws.
“We are not sleeping,” one resident said. “People are expecting bulldozers at any time.”
At the heart of the issue is the enforcement of the 30-metre riparian buffer zone, which prohibits any construction within the protected area.
Government officials maintain that buildings within this zone are illegal, regardless of their value or occupancy status, and must be removed to restore river ecosystems and reduce flood risks.
*Accountability Questions Emerge*
The unfolding situation has raised serious concerns about how such developments were allowed to come up in the first place.
While some property owners claim they followed due process, authorities are now shifting focus to enforcement, signaling that illegality will not be excused.
*A Tough but Necessary Crackdown*
The government insists the demolitions are part of a broader effort to reclaim public land and enforce environmental laws.
The developments in Parklands now stand as a stark reminder that even high-value investments are not immune when built outside the law.