Azimio hits out at State as homes demolished following Ruto order

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau and his Kathiani counterpart Robert Mbui confront police during demolitions on October 14, 2023. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

Saturday's day-long exercise left dozens of homes, schools and churches that are said to have been erected illegally on the East African Portland Cement (EAPC) property flattened.

One of the victims, Fred Nguku, a sales manager in Nairobi, says he took a loan of Sh2 million three years ago to buy a 50 by 100 plot at Sh700,000.

"After seeing the title deed and doing a search in e-citizen, I established that the owner was Aimi Ma Lukenya Society," said Nguku.

"The government is not being fair at all. I have constructed a house worth Sh5 million that is now down after being demolished," he added.

Narrating to The Standard on Sunday the pain he has gone through, Nguku, a father of two, says the government should compensate for their plots and buildings.

Monicah Kamene, a widow and victim of the demolitions, said she has lost property worth Sh3 million.

"It is unfortunate that I am living in hell in my ancestral land. All that we owned, we purchased, and we are still being tossed around and living in confusion and threats from the company," said Kamene.

The mother of three said that she has lived in the land for more than four years.

"Now I do not know what to do after my four-storey house was demolished," she said.

Kamene and Nguku share the pain of many families after President William Ruto ordered squatters occupying part of EAPC land in Athi River to vacate. The president said part of the land belonging to the EAPC will be used to expand the manufacturing zone.

"The government will purchase part of this land and construct more factories there so that our jobless youth benefit," said Ruto.

Ruto made the announcement on Friday during a tour of the Athi River, where he officially opened Square Pharmaceuticals.

Ruto also ordered the Lands Ministry to revoke titles of land that have not been developed in Athi River for over 10 years.

"People who have held titles to pieces of land for 10 to 30 years without developing them be revoked so that we can give it to people who want to use this facility," Ruto said.

At the heart of the battle is 4,298 acres of property said to be owned by the cement manufacturing company.

The prime land in question, LRNo 10424, is located along the Nairobi-Mombasa Road, south of Athi River Township in Machakos County.

The land is currently valued at approximately Sh15 million per acre and has for many years been a tag of war among individuals claiming ownership.

More than 50 homes have been demolished, leaving hundreds of owners pondering their next move under the scorching sun and clouds of dust.

And speaking in Kitui on Saturday, Azimio leadership led by Raila Odinga, Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka and Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti condemned the demolitions at the disputed piece of land.

Raila accused the Kenya Kwanza government of being insensitive to the plight of Mavoko residents.

"What is happening in Mavoko is a beastly act, and we condemn it. The government should stop that exercise and compensate the residents for the loss," Raila said.

He said it was hypocritical for the government to talk about affordable housing for Kenyans but, on the other hand, turn around to destroy people's homes.

Kalonzo said the demolitions will affect the school calendar and the forthcoming national exams.

He regretted that over 20,000 people had been rendered homeless with no alternative place to go.

"We should be treated with dignity," Kalonzo said, noting that the bottom-up slogan by the Kenya Kwanza government had turned sour for Kenyans who were now struggling with the high cost of living.

Kalonzo said the land being claimed by EAPC should have been reverted back to the Machakos County government since their lease for mining limestone had elapsed.

"What has happened in Mavoko is a siege. It should not happen in this day and age," he stated.

Kalonzo claimed that the cement company was not financially stable and was almost going insolvent, adding that the dispute should be settled in a humane manner without subjecting people to more suffering.

Raila and Kalonzo spoke at Kyondondi primary school grounds, Kitui County, during the homecoming party for Senator Enoch Wambua.

The Azimio team called on the government to halt the demolitions, saying they were coming at the wrong time when the country is expected to receive El Nino rains.

Earlier on Saturday, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi and four MPs were dispersed by police.

Patrick Makau (Mavoko) Robert Bui, (Kathiani) Steven Mule (Matungulu) Joyce Kamene (Machakos Woman Rep) had set out to assess damages caused during the demolitions but were forced to flee after they were confronted by anti-riot police officers.

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