Raila condemns government’s demolition of properties in Voi
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has condemned the demolition of settlements in Voi, Taita Taveta County and other parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Mr Odinga accused President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration of the forceful evictions and said that the government had failed to provide adequate notice, compensation, and alternative settlements for the affected residents, who were left homeless and destitute in the middle of a harsh weather and economic crisis.
He accused the government of pursuing a policy of inflicting pain and suffering on the people, especially the poor and vulnerable ignoring the efforts of the local leaders and the community to resolve the land dispute peacefully and amicably.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration seems to have settled on forceful evictions and demolition of settlements as the preferred way of acquiring or settling land disputes. From Mavoko to Kakamega, Thika, and Mombasa and today in Voi, the government seems to be pursuing a policy of evicting people from their settlements using utmost pain inflicted at the most desperate moments,” Mr Odinga said.
He added, “Kenyans don’t deserve this amount of cruelty. Kenyans have so much burden to carry in the New Year. Losing a home should not be added to their burdens. The government needs to have feelings and empathy for the people. The times are too tough, the needs too pressing, and the weather too harsh for anyone to lose a home in the hands of the government.”
He said President Ruto that during his campaign he promised to end forceful evictions and demolition of dwellings and to ensure that affected people would be provided with enough notice and compensation promptly paid.
He said that the victims of the ongoing evictions in Voi and other parts of the country were waiting for these promises to be kept.
He appealed to humanitarian organisations and human rights bodies to move in and help the people of Voi access the basics that they need and pursue justice.
He also urged the public to stand in solidarity with the affected residents and demand accountability from the government.
On Saturday, over 3,500 residents of Msambweni in Voi, Taita Taveta were invaded by a contingent of police officers escorting a demolition squad that has so far brought down several homes on a disputed piece of land.
The land in question is said to belong to Sparkle Properties which claims to have bought it from the Bata Shoe Company.
However, the residents say that they have been living on the land for decades after Bata failed to develop the land according to the lease agreement.
The dispute over the land had been brought to the attention of the highest level of government, including President Ruto, who in turn had promised to seek a resolution.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime said that he had tried to reach out to the national government leaders to intervene and stop the demolitions, but his efforts had failed as they were not picking up his calls.
He said that he was shocked and saddened by the government’s action, which he termed as inhumane and illegal.
He said that they had convened a meeting with the local leaders and the community on Saturday to discuss the way forward but they were shocked by the turn of events.
“I want the people to know that we as local leaders have tried our best. Some of the national government officials have refused to pick up our calls,” he said.
Sources at the National Police Service say that Inspector General Japhet Koome has directed an Inquiry into Saturday’s demolition.
The IG has called the Regional Police Commander Coast, the Taita Taveta County Police Commander Patrick Okeri and sub-county police commander Benastein Shari to the headquarters for questioning.
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