Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati’s family is crying foul following the demolition of a Sh500 million property adjacent Masinde Muliro stadium in Kanduyi.
Masinde Muliro stadium that is slated to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, is being rehabilitated.
Other facilities under renovation include Matulo airstrip, construction of the state lodge and installation of security lights in Bungoma town.
Michael Wangamati on Saturday said they had filed a case in a Bungoma court, seeking to bar the demolition the property. He said the ruling is set for April 25 and they do not understand why the building was brought down before the case is settled.
He attributed the demolition to political witch-hunt.
“We are not madmen to construct a Sh500 million building on land that is not ours. We are the legitimate owners of this land by virtue of a lease that the county is also aware of,” Michael said.
“The case ruling is set for Thursday next week, why not wait for four days until the ruling happens then you make a decision? If we are a country that respects the rule of law, we should respect the rule of law both ways.”
Patrick Wangamati, the former governor’s father and the owner of the building, said he acquired the land from the government through a long-term lease hold in 1965. He dismissed allegations he grabbed the land.
“In 1965, the government gave me this piece of land to set up a petrol station, which I did but along the way, this place has grown and developed and I constructed a supermarket,” he said.
Patrick, however, said the county government has been approving the construction of every stage.
The Environment and Land Court in Bungoma had issued an order to temporarily halt demolition.
This was after Patrick Wangamati and Wangamati Estate Ltd filed a petition, seeking to stop the demolition of properties near the stadium.
In his ruling, Justice Enock C Cherono issued conservatory orders to prevent any agency from carrying out the demolitions.
"We hereby issue conservatory orders restraining the respondents from demolishing the petitioner's property," Justice Cherono said.
The respondents, including the county executive committee for lands, the governor, the county attorney, and the Sports Cabinet Secretary were given a 14-day window to respond to the court.
Wangamati Estate Ltd, the petitioners, claim rightful ownership to the property.
