NAIROBI, 21st February – The Senate Committee on Health has strongly condemned the alleged transfer of public land (LR No. 209/19441), previously occupied by Highridge Clinic, to a private developer.

Addressing the Press during the Committee’s site visit to the parcel of land where Highridge Clinic hitherto stood, members of the Committee led by Chairperson Sen Michael Mbito committed to a thorough inquiry. 

He noted that the Committee would summon stakeholders, including the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), Nairobi City County (NCC) and the private developer, to shed light on how a private developer acquired public land.

“Regrettably, this unclear and unacceptable move is denying the residents of Parklands-Highridge Ward access to proximate and affordable health services,” said Sen Mbito.

Although the delegation could not access the site – since the gates were shut with the onsite guard insisting that he had been locked inside – they could, however, ascertain that the structure was well past the fourth-floor level. In addition, the site board listed the Project’s Client as “Elmi Afrah Properties” and the Project Title as “Proposed Apartments.” The board also featured project approval numbers by Nairobi City County, National Construction Authority and NEMA.

Senators included Sen Millicent Omanga, who raised the matter on the floor of the Senate, and Sen (Dr) Abdullahi Ali. In the November 2021 Statement Request by Sen Omanga, she sought to know whether public participation was conducted before the property was allocated to the private developer and whether NMS and NCC were involved in the transfer of the facility into private hands.