This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
On December 24, 2019, a group of residents from Parklands filed a lawsuit against Garun Investment Ltd and Alif Homes Ltd, accusing them of forcefully demolishing the Highridge Health Centre to construct a residential building.
The residents claimed that the hospital has been in existence since 1952, when it was established by the colonial government to cater to the poor community living around Parklands. After independence, the hospital was transferred to Nairobi City County.
The residents, through their lawyer Kassim Akida, sought orders to stop the private developer from continuing with the construction and for the Nairobi City County to cancel all building approvals granted.
According to the petitioners, Golden Crest Properties Ltd had requested the allocation of the plot to construct residential houses, and the late Minister for Local Government William ole Ntimama had approved the request and allocated the land to the private developer in 2011.
However, the residents argued that the minister had no authority to approve the allocation of public land to a private developer, and his actions were illegal as it was not approved through a full council meeting.
Ali Ngoroi, the chairman of Parklands Community Group, swore in his affidavit that he has lived in the area for more than 30 years and knew the Highridge Health Centre as a public property until June 2011 when the company invaded it.
Mr Ngoroi stated that residents became alarmed in February 2011 when the private developer attempted to demolish the clinic, but the action was thwarted by then Minister for Lands James Orengo, who declared the land was public property.
