Kalonzo tells off CS Kuria over his EAPCC land remarks in Mavoko

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said there are no squatters in Mavoko, Machakos County.

Kalonzo said those referred to as squatters on East Africa Portland Cement Company land in Athi River by Industrialization CS Moses Kuria on Tuesday are investors and residents.

Kalonzo was responding to Kuria's Tuesday statements that the Kenya Kwanza government will evict those squatting on the cement grinding Company land to pave way for a cargo depot.

"I agree with Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, there are no squatters. We have residents and investors, " Kalonzo said.

He spoke at Governor Wavinya Ndeti's Whitehouse office in Machakos on Wednesday.

"I have been following this story keenly. At one time I wrote to former President Uhuru Kenyatta because Machakos County commissioner then had been given Sh30 million budget allocation to demolish houses next to Daystar University and he stopped that action," Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo said innocent people cannot be evicted.

"I want to suggest to President William Ruto, please silence Moses Kuria. He is my friend but ordering Kenya Army to come and harm Kambas is a No," Kalonzo said.

The Ukambani kingpin said land issues were emmotive.

He said he legitimately acquired his parcels in Yatta, Machakos County.

Kalonzo told the President to put order in some of utterances made by his cabinet secretaries.

"We know they are overzealous, wameangukia manono. Kenyans, I want to remind you, the first capital of Kenya was Machakos, " he said.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti told Kuria to consult the Ukambani leadership before making any utterances or action on the controversial EAPCC land.

Ndeti said she doesn't fear the CS.

"I want to tell Moses Kuria, please you have just been given the seat of a Minister. Before you start commanding us, come and seat down with us and know where the problem is," Ndeti said.

"Those cheating you are the land grabbers. They are the ones stealing our land," she said.

Ndeti accused some individuals at the company of running it down through corruption.

She said they left the company in debt and took land belonging to the Kamba community.

"As Ukambani residents, we gave them the land to be mine on. They ought to return the land to the community after mining. But instead went and took loans with it, now they are selling it," Ndeti said.

"We aren't going to allow that Moses Kuria, we don't fear you. He talked and sent me the video, I'm not scared of you, " Ndeti said.

Ndeti claimed she tried calling the CS but he didn't pick up her calls.

"I'm going to tell his Excellency the President to talk to his CSs so that they don't bring us chaos."

Ndeti said they are also hustlers.

"Those occupying the land are Kambas, we can't evict them. If you want to develop the land, come talk to us," Ndeti said.

The county CEO said the controversial land belongs to Machakos residents.

Kuria on Tuesday said those who had settled on the land purporting to be squatters will be evicted and their houses flattened next week.

He told the occupants to start moving out from the land before next Monday.