Kenya Power is targetting at least 2,000 buildings as demolition of illegal structures on power line reserves enters its second week today, Monday 18, after a long hiatus.
Kenya Power Security Services Manager Geoffrey Kigen said about 700 illegal structures were flattened last week in the operation dubbed Ondokea Laini.
This week they will be bringing down structures in Mihang’o, Mowlem and Dandora power substation. Last week, the operation was done in some parts of Buruburu Farmers land.
“We gave them notices in December last year, done sensitisations, marked the buildings on the wayleaves and told the owners to remove them. Apparently, some had not done so and those are the ones we are removing. This week we will concentrate on the main KPLC line,” said Mr Kigen.
Mr Kigen noted that ‘Ondokea Laini’ is a multi-agency operation involving over 20 government agencies.
“We have removed thousands of such illegal structures and we have around 2, 000 structures pending,” he said.
The power firm notes that there are thousands of buildings illegally built on wayleaves that stretch 5,300km countrywide.
Since the demolition exercise was first launched in March last year, at least 10,000 illegal structures extending 6km have been removed in Imara Daima, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben and Sinai village.
Other areas mapped for demolitions include Tena, Umoja Phase 1, Inner Core, Embakasi Baraka Estate to Tassia Estate, Mathare Valley slums.
“The illegal and unsafe structures not only pose a danger to the squatters in the event of an electrical accident, but also deny us the ability to maintain our power supply lines,” noted Kigen as quoted by Nation.co.ke.
Kenya Power guidelines allow structures built 20 metres on either side of a 220kV power line and 15 metres on either side of a 132kV line.
The agencies involved in the operation include the Nairobi City County Government, the National Disaster Management Unit, the National Construction Authority, the National Environment Management Authority, Kenya Pipeline Corporation, the National Building Inspectorate, Kenya Railway Corporation, Water Resource Authority, and the National Police Service.
