The East African Portland Cement company has stated that it warned residents of its Mavoko land in Athi River over settling in the disputed land early enough.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, October 17, the executives added that the company also gave landowners enough time to vacate the land and collect their belongings.
Owing to the earlier warning, Portland Cement plc stated that it had no choice but to evict the alleged invaders and continue with the ongoing demolitions.
“Before and after court ruling, East African Portland Cement director appealed to illegal invaders to vacate the land and provided a grace period for them to retrieve their belongings.
“These messages were conveyed through multiple channels including public notices, media and engagement with local administration,” stated the company representatives.
Portland Cement Clarifies Selling Mavoko Land
Moreover, the firm refuted claims that it intended to regularize the land after kicking out illegal owners.
According to Portland Cement, the advertisement placed in the media seeking to regularize parcels of land in Mavoko was for a different land in the same area.
“The process for regularization of the land began in 2012. Since then, the negotiations and the mapping exercises have been going on,” added the company.
Also Read: Portland Cement Announces Sale of Disputed Mavoko Land
In the notice by the company on October 17, Portland Cement had invited residents of the referenced land in Mavoko to express interest in buying the pieces of land within the following 14 days.
Further, the company warned that it would sell the parcels to other interested members of the public at the end of the 14 days.
Ruto Revokes Mavoko Lands Title Deeds
Earlier on October 13, President William Ruto announced that he had given instructions to the Ministry of Lands to revoke title deeds for lands in Athir river that had remained unutilized for over 10 years and above.
The directive followed a court ruling that declared the land a property of Portland Cement.
Ruto noted that the pieces of land would be used for manufacturing of various materials for exportation.
Also Read: DCI Summons 30 People Over Mavoko Land Dispute [LIST]
“We have now been cleared by the courts on the land that was adjacent to EPZ, the land that belonged to Portland cement.
“We can create more space for more companies to set camp in Kenya in Athi river and give ourselves an opportunity to manufacture more products pharmaceuticals,” Ruto stated.
DCI Summons Mavoko Leaders
On October 18, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) summoned 30 individuals including Mavoko Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Makau over the Portland Cement land dispute in Athi River.
According to the directorate, the individuals had information that would assist with investigations into the matter.
Further, DCI noted that it had received credible information indicating that some of the individuals being evicted from the Mavoko land in question were innocent buyers who fell victim to fraudsters.
