DCI commences probe into Westlands mystery eviction

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) have begun investigations into the disputed one-acre prime parcel of land located along School Lane in Westlands, Nairobi.

According to Niraj Shah and his wife Avani Shah, they are the legal occupants since their lease to the land, which was allegedly bought by a private company in 2010,  expires in 2048.

The couple has condemned the demolition of their Ksh.80 million worth property by a mob allegedly deployed by the private developer.

"I used to call this a home until Friday Morning and today I can’t even call it a home it's in shambles," Niraj told Citizen TV.

For over 40 years, the Shah’s have called the parcel of land their home but the Ksh.80 million property now looks nothing close to its former self.

"It's questionable because my father had renewed this lease in 1998 and it is valid for 50 years so it is going to expire in 2048 and they claim they bought the land in 2010 so we are questioning; bought from who? How did they do it and how did they transfer the land to themselves?" Niraj posed.

He added that the investor in question demolished the house without following police protocol to do so.

"The right procedure is for them to go to the police, get assistance and come with the police. There is a procedure to follow if you have to evict someone but none of them were followed," said Niraj.

"I am heartbroken and I can't even comprehend where to start... The destruction over here is probably more than Ksh.80 million shillings. If I am supposed to construct this house again it will cost me about Ksh.80 million which I can't even do. I don’t have that much money... what do I do now... where do I stay... am homeless at the moment," added Avani.

According to Avani,  a man named Zachary Barasa showed her a document purporting that a private company named 'Lariak Properties' had bought the land from Metro pharmaceuticals in 2010.

The Shah’s however maintain that they are the legal occupants since their lease to the land is still valid, adding that they are in possession of a court order dated November 1, 2022, which directs that the plaintiff be restrained from trespassing or interfering with the couple's possession of the land.

The couple claims that the eviction was executed without following due process and their efforts to seek help from authorities including the area police hit a deadlock.

"It's breaking my heart even now I don't even know how to express myself, that my house has been brought down and nobody has come to help, we called the police from Gigiri, parklands, spring valley, and no one came to our help," said Avani.

A search at the registrar of companies shows that Lariak properties was registered in 2002 and has four directors namely Nathaniel Kipkemboi Barmasai, Samuel K. Chepkwony, John Kamaiyoa Rotich and Joel Kiplangat who sources say are connected to a high profile person.

Efforts to speak to the officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation who were present proved futile and we only managed to establish that they were there to commence investigations into the land saga.

Hopefully, the probe will unravel the mystery behind the ownership of this prime piece of land.