Raila Blasts State Over Mavoko Demolitions
The leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, Raila Odinga, has strongly condemned the recent demolitions of houses said to be on East Africa Portland Cement land in Athi River, Machakos County.
He accused the Kenya Kwanza Government, led by President William Ruto, of being insensitive, and claimed that Ruto had ordered the eviction of Mavoko residents.
Speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony for Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua on Saturday, October 14 in Kitui County, the opposition leader condemned the heinous actions, especially with the threat of El Nino rains, which would leave people without shelter.
He further questioned the lack of alternative housing solutions for those affected.
“It is Ruto himself who gave the orders for the evacuation of those people. Where are they expected to go? They were supposed to be given an area for them to relocate to with already built houses before they got evicted in the pretense that the occupied land belonged to a company,” Odinga stated.
Raila also claimed that the eviction orders appeared to come from the highest levels of government without proper opposition in Parliament, raising concerns about the state’s influence on legislative decisions.
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“What we are witnessing, is the State capture of the Legislator. Orders from the Statehouse are passed by Parliament without being opposed,” he said.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka echoed Raila’s sentiments and expressed solidarity with Mavoko’s residents.
He noted that the demolitions had left some learners without schools, just as national exams like KCPE and KCSE are fast approaching.
The demolitions, which began on Friday, October 13, followed a Machakos High Court ruling that declared the occupation of the land illegal.
The ruling stated that the disputed land belonged to Portland cement, not the residents who had lived there for years.
Additionally, President William Ruto directed the Lands Ministry to revoke the titles of undeveloped land in Athi River that had been idle for more than ten years, as well as the eviction of squatters from a portion of the EAPC property in Athi River.
The directives were issued by the President during a visit to Athi River on Friday, where he also inaugurated Square Pharmaceuticals.
Raila Blasts State Over Mavoko Demolitions