Tens left homeless as NSSF effects eviction order in Mavoko

Several families have been rendered homeless after they were forcibly evicted from the land belonging to National Social Security Fund Staff Pension Scheme in Mavoko, Machakos county.

The tens of victims were pushed out on the LR No: 14750/37 (originally Land Reference Number 14750/8-25 located at Katani location in Mlolongo division, Athi River subcounty on Friday.

They woke up to roaring bulldozers early Friday which pulled down various structures that included houses, fences and other structures that they had erected on sections of the parcel.

Officers drawn from a special unit within the National Police Service kept vigil on the land during the demolitions.

Local police command denied involvement in the evictions.

A police source, however, told the Star that the evictions were effected following a court order issued on November 30, 2023 by a Mavoko Magistrate’s court, in favour of NSSF Staff Pension Scheme that had successfully sued four individuals.

The case - MCELC/E140/2023 - was heard before Senior Principal Magistrate Beatrice Ojoo.

The defendants, according to the court papers, had been given thirty days to wilfully vacate the land after the court ruled that it belongs to the plaintiff.

The defendants, however, ignored the order leading to the forciful evictions.

"A permanent order of injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, agents and/or servants, or whoever is acting on their behalf from interfering with the plaintiff’s possession, occupation of the property known as land reference number 14750/37) originally Land Reference Number 14750/8 – 25),” the order seen by the Star reads in part.

The court declared the defendants as trespassers on the suit land and ordered the OCS, Athi River police station, to ensure compliance of the order.

“That the defendants do vacate the suit land within 30 days from the date hereof failing which the plaintiff shall be at liberty to cause their eviction from the suit land," Magistrate Ojoo ruled.

"Upon execution of the above, a permanent injunction is hereby issued restraining the defendants by themselves, their employees, agents, assigns or any persons acting for and under them from entering, trespassing, cultivating and or in any way whatsoever interfering with the land parcel."

The demolitions come barely a year after hundreds of residents lost their homes and other property when bulldozers evicted them from East African Portland Cement Company land in Athi River, Machakos county.