Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has stopped the construction of the 43-storey Avic International Africa headquarters in Nairobi’s Westlands area.
Sonko said the mega structure has encroached on public roads and contractors have violated planning laws.
More than 15 Chinese citizens working on the construction site were arrested and charged with erecting a building without approval. Also arrested were two Kenyans.
The skyscraper was set to be one of Nairobi’s tallest structure and was apparently to host the JW Marriot, a chain of hotels headquartered in the United States.
“We wish to inform the general public especially people residing around Parklands, Westlands and Riverside that we have this morning stopped the construction of the Avic International building along the Waiyaki Way/ Chiromo Road and arrested all the Chinese and Kenyan contractors on site for defying the county planning laws by encroaching on the famous Chiromo close public access,” said a statement from Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
The Governor also alleged that Avic International bribed the previous administration $2 million (Sh200,000,000) in cash as “protection fee”.
Sonko said county officials linked to the construction of the Avic International building will be sacked.
“Kuanzia Tito Kilonzi head of security compliance, Kathenge head of planning and approvals, arresting officers and the county prosecutor you will all go home by end of today (Thursday),” Sonko added.
The Chinese contractors and their two Kenyan colleagues pleaded not guilty to the charge and were freed on Sh100,000 cash bail each.
Why did they wait for this…
Why did they wait for this building to get that high. Surely, haya ni maendeleo?
Eti “Sonko said county…
Eti “Sonko said county officials linked to the construction of the Avic International building will be SACKED.” Why not first ARREST and Charge them officials?
Kuchaguliwa kwa Ndugu Sonko…
Kuchaguliwa kwa Ndugu Sonko kuwa Gavana wa jiji la nairobi yalikuwa makosa makubwa sana. Huyu ndugu yetu hachukui nafasi au muda wa kufikiria jambo kabla hajazungumza!
Najiuliza, jumba ambalo limeanza kujengwa linawezaje kusimamishwa kwa gavana kutoa amri tu!
Ningependa kumlaumu Wafula Chebukati kwa kuwakubali watu wasiofaa kugombea kiti na huku vichwa vyao vimeoza kabisa.
@Imara Halisi kuna imara…
@Imara Halisi kuna imara gani kutofuata sheria? Wee endelea kumlaumu yeyote unataka lakini dua ya kwamba, dunda upinduka. Sasa mamba yamebadilika. The hunter becomes the hunted. Does Wafuka decide for all Kenyans? Aren’t there laws to follow when building these type of buildings? Look at all these apartments that are been build everywhere without any coordination from the various bodies like Nema and others. If you bribe someone 2Million dollars and things go bad down the road, then you will have to bite the bullet. Some of these houses/apartments are build without consideration of sewage. Those septic tanks become a mess when it rains hard and floods everywhere with raw sewage. I say, knock them buildings down if they are at the wrong place. Knock them down. This is the only way we are going to be a nation of laws not a nation of corrupt people.
You cannot blame Chibukati,…
You cannot blame Chibukati, he is not the one who voted him in, if he had met the requirements set up by laws, then he cannot deny him but the CITIZENS OF NAIROBI are to blame for electing him
Really this week your guys…
Really this week your guys arrested waititu wife/team juu ya iyo construction we heard you tell waititu to come for the approval..things do not add up I have been following your tours vile unatembea na cash..and dishing it out..hospital can it be they were unable to meet your bribe..just a guess Sonko lakini your leadership is media focused vile unawarecord kwa simu, yako will explode I see it soon before xmas.
@Imara, you are right. This…
@Imara, you are right. This Sonko guy and the guys behind demolitions are fast becoming clueless as to what their agenda was in the first place. How can serious investors do business in Kenya if demolitions happen same way one can wake up to flatten his hut?
This building started with…
This building started with phd thief thug mumias Kidero.It need to b brot dwn kama iko kwa road.Kidero was bribed with lots of cash juu he could have bomoad this buildings but coz he was eating with corrupt as him then hangezimbomoa.So Sonko Let it come dwn ndio iwe funzo kwa wote.