THE Kenyan government has announced its intention to demolish the headquarter of Safaricom Limited under a compulsory acquisition programme, in a move to pave way for road expansion plan.
Safaricom is among several companies whose multi-million shilling buildings have been earmarked for demolition by the government.
If demolished, safaricom will loose its two prime and ultramodern buildings on Waiyaki Way in the capital of Nairobi.
In a Gazette Notice dated December 31, the Ministry of Lands announced it would acquire various parcels of land of varying sizes on both sides of Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way.
The government said it intends to acquire the land in order to expand the road between the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport through to Museum Hill and Gigiri, both in Nairobi.
In a quick reaction to the intended demolition, Safaricom Limited’s CEO Bob Collymore said the company does not own the buildings they operate from and would be negotiating with their landlords to get a practical solution.
“Safaricom is not in the business of brick and mortar and as such, we do not own any of the sites from which we operate,” Mr Collymore said in a statement.
“We are in touch with our landlords and the authorities with a view to working out a practical resolution.”
The two buildings on which Safaricom operates from are not built on a road reserve but the government has indicated it will be invoking the section of the law that deals with compulsory acquisition to use it for a road expansion project.
Under such arrangement, the government compensates legitimate owners of land as per the current market value of their property.
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