Youth and leaders flee after police lobbed teargas to disperse them at
Kimorori grounds in Kenol, Murang’a /ALICE WAITHERA
The Environment and Land Court in Murang’a has suspended the construction of government offices on grounds used by the youth for sporting activities in Kenol town.
Justice Jane Onyango issued the orders following the application of a petition by former National Cohesion and Integration Commissioner Wambui Nyutu.
Nyutu said residents approached her for help in blocking the construction of government offices, underscoring the importance of the grounds for the youths.
Justice Onyango scheduled the application for an inter-parties hearing on December 1.
The administration, in partnership with the NG-CDF, intends to construct government offices including an ICT hub, IEBC offices, police quarters and Kenol Court on the space.
The grounds are strategically located along the Kenol-Sagana dual carriageway, which is considered the gateway to the Mt Kenya region.
However, youth in the fast-growing town insist that for over a decade, the grounds have hosted activities especially during holidays, keeping them busy and away from crime.
They also challenged the move, saying the subcounty headquarters has numerous idle spaces that can be utilised for the projects.
On Monday, a public participation forum organised by deputy county commissioner Gitonga Murungi to debate the issue ended in disarray.
The DCC, who said the land is in the possession of his office, backs the county’s expansion plan.
During the meeting, local youth claimed leaders had brought in other young people from other areas to support the construction plan.
They left the meeting, only to return minutes later accompanied by other political leaders, including Nyutu, who was armed with the court order.
This prompted confrontations and the two groups of youths engaged in near-fist fights. Police officers present lobbed tear-gas canisters to break them apart and disperse them.
While local leaders underscored the benefits the expansion would bring, residents expressed their reservations.
MP Mary Waithera said the space is not a designated playground, highlighting the benefits the new government offices will bring to locals in the delivery of services.
The local courts, for instance, are hosted in an old and congested building within the subcounty headquarters.
Additionally, an ICT hub would provide opportunities for locals to engage in online jobs and benefit from numerous digital employment opportunities enabled by the state.
But Steve Mburu, a resident, said Kenol town has no other recreational space despite having a high number of youths residing in it.
“All other major towns, including Nyeri, Murang’a and Thika, have numerous spaces set aside for recreation. Areas where people can go to rest or relax. In Kenol, we have none other than these grounds,” he said.
Mburu challenged the leadership to consider setting aside more land instead of taking the only space being utilised for recreational activities, saying it may cause a spike in crime and idleness.
“Why not consider all these empty spaces here and establish a storey building that can accommodate all those government offices instead of denying us the chance to use the grounds for sports?” he asked.
John Karanja echoed the same sentiments, noting that the land on which the grounds and subcounty headquarters stand was donated by locals for the growth of the town.
“This was our parents’ land and therefore we should be listened to. Let the government look for alternative land for the offices so we can continue with our sports,” Karanja said.
The six-acre parcel was donated by Ngimu Farm Company, after shareholders—who are residents of the town—agreed to help the government establish offices there decades ago and enhance security and development.
Adding his voice, Sports CEC Manoah Gachucha asked the MP to liaise with the county to have another parcel of land set aside for the construction.
