Church, Cafeteria Opposite Taj Mall In Embakasi Demolished

The government has demolished the cafeteria extension at National Oil opposite Airgate Mall formerly Taj Mall, in the ongoing exercise of reclaiming road reserves and riparian land.

A church,House of Grace, was also flattened in the exercise that was done away from the glaring eye of the media.

This could be a signal that Taj Mall and other buildings built on road reserves could be brought down soon.

A fortnight ago, National Building Inspectorate Moses Nyakiongora gave Air Gate Mall owner Ramesh Gorasia and the tenants until August 30 to vacate the structure.

The multi-agency team carrying out demolitions of structures on riparian and road reserves has hinted that Taj Mall could be demolished next week, when the exercise moves to Embakasi.

The task force said that the demolition team will move to Embakasi and Kileleshwa areas next week after flattening the twin Southend mall buildings on Langata Road.

The buildings were partially knocked down on August 8 and has been hanging dangerously. The team resumed the demolitions last Thursday after a week’s break to allow for the repair of the bulldozers that had broken down.

Read: MPs Suspend Controversial Petroleum VAT Bill For Two Years

The team has changed tact, by hiding the names of targeted buildings in fear of being attacked by hired goons.

“The reasons are the same, if we tell the public the buildings we are targeting , then we are subjecting ourselves to unnecessary attacks by goons,”  said Julius Wanjau, the officer in charge of the operation.

The exercise of demolishing buildings built on riparian land started early this month with the demolition of Java House Kileleshwa on August 6.

The task force has already demolished at least four high-end buildings since August 6. Ukay Center and part of Oshwal Centre have been brought down. Shell petrol station and a Java outlet within it, part of a flat at Caribbean apartment and several walls have also been pulled down.

It targets over 4,000 structures in the operation expected to take two months

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