Stop Evictions Now
Rt. Hon Raila Odinga recently issued a statement urging the government to immediately stop demolition of properties across the country. He said:
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.
At day break today, over 3000 residents of Msambweni in Voi 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 dispute over this land had been brought to the attention of the highest level of government, including H.E. William Ruto who in turn tasked the elected leaders to come up with a resolution.
I have taken time to speak to different categories of community leaders in Voi and they have assured of their commitment to finding a solution that is acceptable to all parties to the dispute.
The community had earlier asked the government to compensate them for land acquired by the SGR, to enable them buy alternative settlements. That has not happened.
As the community prepared to meet this afternoon, demolition started early morning. The entire leadership of the National Government Administration Officers in the county has refused to respond to distress calls of residents and instead gone into hiding.
This is happening in the middle of difficult economic times, and as parents prepare to send their children to school on Monday.
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. 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.
We therefore call on the government to immediately stop the demolitions currently underway in Voi and in any other part of the country.
We remind Mr. William Ruto that made during the campaigns, he promised that forceful evictions and demolition of dwellings would be a thing of the past. Ruto promised that where necessary, affected people would be provided with enough notice and compensation promptly paid. Victims of ongoing evictions in Voi and other parts of the country are waiting for these promises to be kept. At the same time, we appeal to humanitarian organizations and human rights bodies to move in and help the people of Voi access the basics that they need and pursue justice.
RT. HON. RAILA ODINGA;
JANUARY 6, 2024.