The demolitions and eviction of residents of Machakos County’s Athi River, Mavoko area from Friday, October 13 has sparked an uproar from Kenyans.
Politicians, residents of the area, netizens and other members of the public have raised concern over the means used to evict residents from the land they have occupied for several years.
Following a Machakos High Court ruling which declared the occupation of the land illegal, the government demolished over 50 residences, including churches and mosques.
Moreover, the land in dispute is said to be part of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) but had been occupied by some of the victims for more than 10 years.
Ukambani Leaders
Notably, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, on Saturday, October 14 condemned the demolitions, saying residents were not given notice to vacate.
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“It’s shocking that government security agencies proceeded with the demolitions of homes without issuing any notice to the affected people as the law requires,” Governor Ndeti noted.
“It is partially disappointing that the process was unnecessarily rushed despite the fact that there were ongoing high-level discussions between the President and I on the matter,” she added.
Likewise, the governor expressed concern on the demolition of schools among other buildings in Athi River, saying examinations are near.
“Now they have destroyed 5 churches and 3 schools. Exams are close, El-Nino is coming, what do they want us to do?” she posed.
In addition, Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, criticized the government over the Athi River demolitions.
“How can you on one hand talk about affordable housing and destroy the little that citizens have of their own?” Kalonzo Musyoka posed.
Residents Complain
Moses Kimani, one of the residents, said they were not issued with a 21-day notice to vacate the area.
“They did not give any notice; we should have received a 21-day notice. That did not happen at all,” he said.
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Boniface Mwangi, popularly known as the Peoples Watchman on X, claimed that some leaders collaborated with land cartels to sell the land to unsuspecting buyers.
“As an Athi River landowner, I will tell you for a fact that some of our leaders in cahoots with land cartels sold unsuspecting genuine buyers stolen land,” he wrote.
Further, he accused the DCI in Machakos County of working together with land cartels to steal land from genuine owners.
“There are areas in the Athi River where genuine owners have been kicked out, their land fenced, subdivided, and sold,” he claimed.
Also, Mwangi allegedly said that when one reports to the police, they demand cash and then do nothing about it.
In addition, Mwangi stated that punishing innocent land buyers while not prosecuting the criminals who sold the land is an indication of collusion between the police, the Ministry of Lands employees, and the land cartels.
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Moreover, popular TikToker Alvan Love also condemned the demolitions saying his parents have been rendered homeless.
“The Government has put a finger in my nose. I’m about to lose my parents’ home tomorrow,” he said in a TikTok video.
Alvan further mentioned the agony faced by residents whose houses were to be demolished and asked the President to be considerate.
“The life of the common citizen is precious you cannot wipe out people’s homes and demolish them in the name of cement. And if you were being advised badly, you need to put those people to task. You are about to take people out of their homes, for cement,” he said.
Ruto’s Directive
Nevertheless, President William Ruto, on October 13, during the launch of Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya issued a directive to the Ministry of Land to cancel land titles for areas in Athi River that have not been developed for more than ten years.
The head of state directed that the parcels of land be transferred to the Export Processing Zones (EPZ).
He stated that approximately 1,000 acres should be transferred from East Africa Portland Cement Company to EPZ to allow the government expand the facility.
