Naivasha Residents Demand Answers about a mall on Public Land

The construction of a multi-billion-shilling shopping mall on a piece of land that was formerly owned by Kenya Railways has sparked a tempest in the town of Naivasha, Nakuru County. People and community leaders are claiming that the government agencies lack transparency, and how a good parcel of state owned land has been turned into a major privatized development.

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The contentious land which is found along Moi road in Naivasha town had been in slumber since it was taken over by Kenya Railways. The region however has experienced a dramatic change in the last few months whereby there has been a sudden emergence, and rapid development of a massive shopping center, petrol stations, hotels, and entertainment joints- all of which are characterized by strict security measures.

The locals claim that the confidentiality of the Naivasha Mall project is very concerning in terms of ownership, legal approvals and how the land was acquired. It is being widely described as a case of privatization of public land by stealth and the government should provide a full disclosure.

MP Kihara Rings Rallying Cry of Transparency

Jane Kihara, Naivasha Member of Parliament, is not an exception since she has joined the residents to want to know the identity of the developer of the high profile project. She pointed out that the government should explain to the Kenyans, and that, more so, considering the controversial history of the land.

According to Kihara, in 2022, more than 300 small business owners have been evicted with their structures, such as hotels and stalls, destroyed on the same site after being accused of incurring activity on government land. She claimed that it was hypocritical that, only a few years later, a private developer was permitted to take a large-scale construction at the same location.

According to Kihara, who urged the president to cleanse his hands and to reveal to the Kenyans who was developing Kenya Railways property in Naivasha, the issue was not about politics but it concerned fairness, accountability, and justice.

Cry Foul Over Double Standards, Residents

The locals have condemned the government as being double-handed by claiming that small traders are being inhumanly kicked off as it is said to safeguard peoples land yet the major players in the trade appear to have simple access to the same lands.

They were angry about what they consider to be exclusive treatment of the rich and those supposedly connected with the politics. Their addition of the heavy security at the construction site, they claim, is meant to prevent locals form raising questions.

So who owns the project, what contractors and what is the approval date – so why does this not have a board of information telling us this is a government project? one of the residents inquired on a peaceful protest. We have the right to know who is behind this construction and what is the legal basis of this construction.

The Controversy is Enhanced by the Historical Background

The land in question, according to local leaders, was donated by the Delamere family in the 1980s, which was to be used to create a sports and recreational facility, which was open to everyone. The discovery has deepened the fears, which suggest that conversion of the property into a privatized commercial hub is actually a deeper trend of land grabbing by the state in the name of development.

According to one of the community elders, the land was intended to benefit the community, but not boost the fortunes of the few people, and therefore the government should cease the project until the full investigations are established.

Demands of Accountability Increase

The Naivasha community is still calling upon a complete public release of the ownership documents, approval permits, and the conditions that the land was transferred as the public outcry is increasing.

The scandal has reawakened old arguments on management and protection of state land in Kenya- an issue that is usually tainted with corruption, political influence, and accountability dodge.

Construction is being going on with high security levels, but so is the pressure by the residents, activists and political leaders who are insisting that the government regains the confidence of citizens by disclosing the owner of the multi-billion-shilling Naivasha Mall project.