Waititu logic: Instead of demolishing buildings on riparian land, just move the rivers

Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu has opposed the ongoing demolition of buildings built on riparian lands with one of the most jaw dropping ideas ever.

On Sunday, Waititu told congregants at the Presbyterian Church (PCEA) in Gikambura, Kiambu that bringing down the structures built close to river beds is not a solution and that the rivers should be moved instead.

The former Deputy Nairobi City Mayor urged owners of structures built next to rivers to incur the costs of moving the rivers away from their structures.

“I do not support the issue of demolitions. If your building is close to a river, you should incur the costs of having the river moved a little further,” said Waititu.

“But demolishing a building is not a solution, honestly speaking. It is such a big loss.”

The Kiambu County boss further urged Deputy President William Ruto to call for a go-slow on the demolition exercise as well as the fight against corruption so that “someone is not accused falsely and their names tarnished when no due diligence was carried out.”

Buildings linked to the high and mighty in society have been reduced to rubble in recent times as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) cracks on structures erected on riparian land.

Shell Petrol station, Java Restaurant, South End Mall, Ukay Centre as well as Oshwal Centre all in Nairobi, are some of the major establishments whose owners have been left counting losses amounting to millions of shillings in this crackdown.