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In a determined effort to rectify what they claim to be an unjust land allocation, residents of Ghetto Village, nestled within the Kiamaiko ward of Mathare Sub-county, have formally petitioned the Nairobi City County Assembly.
Their plea is for assistance in reclaiming a parcel of land that they argue rightfully belongs to them but is currently in the possession of a private developer, Francis Mbau Murigi, under dubious circumstances.
The roots of this dispute trace back to 1970 when Ghetto Village was established as a relocation site for victims of a devastating fire in nearby Huruma Village, impacting around 1,050 households.
However, the aspirations for developing and upgrading the informal settlement faced a setback in 2009 when stakeholders withdrew their support upon realizing the contested ownership of the land.
During a session at the Nairobi Assembly, Kiamaiko Ward MCA Joseph Ndung’u presented the petition.
It outlined a prior attempt to address the irregular allocation through a letter sent to the Commissioner of Lands and the then Director of City Planning.
Regrettably, the irregularly issued title deed for plot number LR.209/12290 was never revoked, exacerbating the residents’ sense of being short-changed and unfairly treated.
“We feel short-changed and unfairly treated since the land was greatly reduced from its original size to a quarter, with the Ministry of Lands irregularly awarding it to one individual without consulting or notifying the residents.” Stated Kiamaiko
“We recommend and pray that the land that was illegally allocated to one Francis Mbau Murigi be reverted to Ghetto Lands and Housing Cooperative Society, and the title deed issued in his favor be revoked.” Joseph Ndungu Karanja voiced his dissatisfaction.
They called on the Department of Lands to expedite the transfer and registration of the land to its rightful owners.
As the residents of Ghetto Village navigate this complex issue, they stand united in their pursuit of justice and fair land rights, emphasizing the importance of community cohesion in the face of adversity.