City lawyer Nelson Havi has announced that he will represent homeowners evicted from Athi River land in a tussle with East Africa Portland Cement Company.
According to Havi, his decision was informed by public demand.
He went on to ask that they compile what they used for the purchase of the land they have been evicted from and also valuation reports of the property destroyed in the demolitions.
"Due to public demand, I will act for all the homeowners evicted from the property of East African Portland. Compile the documents pursuant to which you bought the property, get a valuation report of the land and developments, and get in touch with me for further action," Havi said on X.
The demolition started on Friday and is currently on its fourth day.
Havi's decision comes amidst calls by leaders from the region to have the government stop the demolitions.
Due to public demand, I will act for all the homeowners evicted from the property of East African Portland. Compile the documents pursuant to which you bought the property, get a valuation report of the land and developments, and get in touch with me for further action.
— Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) October 16, 2023
The controversial sale of the 4,298 acres of land has now seen hundreds of families left in the cold.
This was after a Machakos High Court declared East African Portland Cement PLC the legitimate owner of the land, LR NO. 10424, located within Athi River in Mavoko, Machakos County.
This followed a legal suit No. 74 of 2014 filed at Machakos Environment and Lands Court by some individuals, and officials of Aimi Ma Lukenya Society against the cement grinder on the said land’s ownership dispute in 2014.
It has also emerged that the East Africa Portland Cement Company had in a Facebook post on June 15, 2016, warned the unsuspecting members of the public against buying the said land cautioning that the said parcels were not for sale.
It went as far as erecting billboards to warn the public that the said parcels which were being sold belonged to the company hence the public should be wary before making any purchase.
“Buyer beware. These parcels of land are not for sale L.R NOs 10425, 8786, 10424, 7815/1 and 8784/4 located on both sides of Mombasa Road between Green Park and Daystar University. All the above parcels are the property of the East African Portland Cement Company,” the billboard reads.
“Buyer Beware. None of the EAPCC properties listed are on sale. The public is advised to be wary of conmen going around taking money from unsuspecting Kenyans.”
The Ministry of Lands has also confirmed that the land belongs to Portland Cement.