Normalcy was disrupted in Parklands, Nairobi, after residents took to the streets to protest against ongoing constructions they termed unlawful.
The irate residents took to the streets to protest against construction firms that have continued with development projects despite multiple court orders halting them.
Concerned about the unchecked constructions, the residents claim the ongoing projects are endangering lives, polluting the environment, and disrupting daily life in their once-quiet neighbourhood.
They argue that the lack of proper oversight has led to dangerous working conditions, with several workers losing their lives due to violations of safety regulations at the construction sites.
“We have only done two public participation [meetings] as required by the law and we were to go to the third one where they were supposed to tell us what's going on, but now, we were shocked to see them starting excavations without permits, without authorisation and it's causing a lot of havoc among Parklands residents,” one of the residents revealed.
The residents revealed that enforcement is lacking, allowing the projects to proceed unchecked.
“Two weeks ago, on 3rd Parklands, we had a construction site which was holding materials on one lane of the road, causing traffic. Before that, we have had over eight deaths in sites, and even construction workers are not safe,” another resident decried.
In February, a worker lost his life after a building under construction collapsed at Third Avenue in Parklands. Reports revealed that the constructor had not put in place the required safety measures.
Apart from construction buildings collapsing, the area is also prone to frequent floods, which the county government blames on clogged drainage systems.
The residents have blamed the constructors for dumping waste improperly, leading to costly consequences. by
