Malaba residents face eviction from public land, road reserves

Trucks queue at Malaba border on January 20, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Residents and traders occupying public land, as well as those who have encroached on road reserves in Malaba, Busia County, have been ordered to vacate within 21 days.

The directive comes in light of plans to widen the Malaba-Bungoma highway into a dual carriageway and to reorganise Malaba town.

According to the Malaba municipality management, these developments aim to reduce road accidents and alleviate congestion caused by trucks along corridor B of the highway, addressing the frequent traffic jams on this busy route.

A notice by Malaba Municipality Manager Francis Asoyong reads: “Following the successful conclusion of public participation in the reorganisation of Malaba town that brought together all affected people in Customs, Main Stage, and Kocholya areas, where it was unanimously agreed that you all vacate road reserves and public land to allow the implementation of the reorganisation agenda in line with our development partners, notice is hereby given by copy of this official communication that you vacate the said areas within 21 days from June 24, 2024, failure to which the municipality shall without further notice demolish all structures on the said areas at owners’ expense."

The notice is copied to Busia Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Executive Peter Odima, the Chief Officer in charge of Urban Development and Physical Planning Kennedy Mbaja, Teso North sub-county Police Commander Joseph Matiku and Malaba Officer Commanding Station George Ouka.

Mr Asoyong said that Amagoro area had been exempted from the current eviction. However, it would be affected by phase two of the exercise, to be announced at a later date.

“Malaba Municipality is a journey we have walked with the people of the municipality and development partners. The eviction notice is a procedure and process each municipality is supposed to follow to access funds from development partners.

“We are reorganising the border town to municipality status. The guidelines followed public participation between the board and affected people," said Asoyong.

The official said the structures earmarked for demolition include kiosks constructed on public land and sewer lines, adding that the Kenya National Highway Authority will undertake the marking exercise.

But some traders said that while it was the municipality's mandate to reorganise the town, the administration must be sensitive to their situation. The evictions, they noted, would disrupt their businesses and hurt earnings. They also complained that they had not been given alternative place to operate from.