Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has earned accolades among residents of Eastleigh after ordering the demolition of a high-rise apartment building allegedly built on a grabbed piece of land in Eastleigh. 

On Friday, August 4, demolishers brought down the building reportedly constructed by an unscrupulous businessman and a Member of the County Assembly.  

Sakaja acted after residents complained that the local MCA grabbed the public land near Eastleigh Health Centre.

The politician reportedly colluded with another Member of the County Assembly (MCA) who constructed the building, which Sakaja's officials brought down.  

An official complaint letter was sent to the Nairobi County Chief Officer of Health Facilities, Geoffrey Mosiria, to act in order to recover the piece of land, which is vital for the expansion of health services in the County. 

Following the demolition, one of the local MCAs accused Sakaja of intimidation, further alleging that the county government was on a witchhunt after he exposed fraud and embezzlement of funds. 

However, Subcounty Medical Officer Dr Miriam Etole emphasised that the county was mandated to protect public land, especially institutions key in providing health services. 

"Eastleigh Health Centre is one of the Public Health Facilities within Kamukunji Sub-County located on three plots along Fourth Street and Muyuyu Lane Eastleigh Second Avenue.

"The facility offers Curative, Maternal Neonatal Child Health Services, Maternity as well Sexual and Gender-Based Violence response unit," Subcounty Medical Officer Dr Miriam Etole reiterated.  

Etole, in a letter to the Health Facilities Chief Officer in the Nairobi County Government, claimed that the MCA demolished a structure on the land built by the hospital before building his apartment. 

"The sub-county medical officer reported that the facility housed the offices of the ward administrator, and the Eastleigh Airbase MCA had requested to set up his office at the facility. However, during the Christmas holidays, the MCA accessed the building and demolished it, leaving residents with no health centre," Etole added. 

Sakaja has consistently emphasised the need to address land grabbing within the city and the protection of key government infrastructure. By Mark Obar, Kenyans.co.ke