- Musyoka demanded an immediate stoppage of the demolitions.
- He urged the concerned Government agencies to stop the eviction of the squatters from the said land on humanitarian grounds.
Image: KALONZO MUSYOKA/X
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the demolitions of homes at the controversial East Africa Portland Cement land in Athi River, Machakos County.
Musyoka demanded an immediate stoppage of the demolitions and urged the concerned Government agencies to stop the eviction of the squatters from the said land on humanitarian grounds.
“What is happening must stop now. Land is devolved. When the lease for the East Africa Portland Cement ran out, the land reverted to Machakos County Government. You cannot therefore conduct any business on matters of land without involving the governor of Machakos,” said Kalonzo.
The former Vice President spoke on Saturday when he attended prayers hosted by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti in her office.
On Friday, bulldozers descended on dozens of homes at ‘Aimi ma Lukenya’ settlement scheme in Mavoko Constituency and demolished them in full glare of owners.
On October 9 this year, the Environment and Land Court in Machakos struck out a court case that had been filed by ‘Aimi ma Lukenya’, who have been laying claim on the prime land measuring 4,298 acres.
In her ruling, Lady Justice A Nyukuri noted that Aimi Ma Likenya had failed to serve their documents to the defendants as ordered by the court.
Kalonzo criticised the court ruling on the dispute, terming it a serious miscarriage of justice.
“The judge was ordered by the executive to strike out the application that was before her but instead she struck out the entire case. That does not happen. That is a serious miscarriage of justice. We don’t understand where the orders for the demolitions came from,” said Kalonzo.
According to Kalonzo, a written notice ought to have been issued first.
Governor Ndeti on her part vowed to challenge the High Court ruling, saying the County Government was not involved in the litigation yet it was a key stakeholder in the ownership row.
“I have instructed our lawyers through the office of the County Attorney to have the orders striking out the suit reversed through an appeal. I have also instructed the office of the County Attorney to ensure that the County Government of Machakos is enjoined as an interested party in the suit,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti furiously condemned the demolition and termed it as State brutality and a serious affront to the rights of the affected people.
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau also condemned the Friday demolitions and termed it a day of weeping.
"My heart goes to those whose properties were destroyed. Today to even construct a single room is a cost that has never been seen before," Makau said.
He acknowledged that the Portland Cement is a government parastatal.
The MP said he had held discussions with Portland Cement and the firm had agreed to sell the disputed piece of land to the residents of Machakos.
"This government is for the people. Despite the court orders, they should not have rushed to do the demolitions," Makau said.