•The Portland Cement Company has important issues that the CS would have addressed.
•The company needs to go back to profitability and pay laid-off workers who are struggling to survive.
Image: FILE
The statement by Trade CS Moses Kuria that he will “flatten” structures erected by squatters occupying the East Africa Portland property in Athi-River, Machakos, is setting a worrying trend.
The CS revealed that reclaimed land will be used to build the first Kenya cargo airport.
Several issues are arising from his statements. In 2020 during retired president Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, there were many evictions carried out.
Some of these evictions were done in an inhumane way. Notable evictions were carried out in Ruai where over 5,000 squatters living on 1,000 acres of land were evicted despite a court.
Earlier in 2013, squatters in Kwale were evicted despite a court order which had ruled that 100 acres be set aside for the squatters.
Two months into the Kenya Kwanza regime, auctioneers demolished a house in Westlands despite a court order barring the demolitions.
And if CS Kuria's threats are anything to go by, expect confrontation from Mavoko squatters.
Already, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Machakos governor Wavinya Ndeti have said there are no squatters because the land in question is community land.
Furthermore, former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has said that when President William Ruto was the deputy president he gave an undertaking that no one will be evicted from the said land.
Land issues are very emotional and whenever there are forceful evictions, lives and property are lost.
Since the Kenya Kwanza government rode on the Hustler narrative, they should be better placed to understand the plight of the poor.
The Kenya Kwanza government ought to slow down on issues that can be emotional and distract the government from serving the people.
It would have cost nothing for Kuria to call community leaders and engage with them. Chest thumping has never been a solution to solving problems.
The Portland Cement Company has important issues that the CS would have addressed. The company needs to go back to profitability and pay laid-off workers who are struggling to survive.
If the Kenya Kwanza is for hustlers, they can buy another land for the squatters.
The previous government bought the Waitiki land for squatters and averted a bloody confrontation. The government can use Waitiki settlement as a case study to offer an opportunity for squatters to get affordable housing.
If any eviction is done, it should be within the law. There should be no favouritism where some politicians who have grabbed public land are not evicted but given leeway to buy the land.
Land issues in Kenya are very emotive and can take political, ethnic or class perspectives.
During the just-ended campaigns, most political formations vowed to solve the squatters' issues. President Ruto even publicly stated that he would give part of his land in Taita Taveta to squatters.
If not handled soberly, land issues can cause divisions in the country. The Kenya Kwanza government should tread carefully on land issues to avert divisions between land owners and squatters.
Rev. Canon. Dr Martin Olando,
Principal, Bishop Hannington Institute, Mombasa.