Azimio leader Raila Odinga has asked the government to stop forceful evictions and demolition of settlements in disputed lands.
In a statement, Raila said demolitions currently underway in Voi and any other part of the country must stop immediately.
The Opposition chief said the government promised that forceful evictions and demolition of dwellings would be a thing of the past while he campaigned to be elected.
“The government 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,” he stated.
Raila at the same time appealed to humanitarian organisations and human rights bodies to move in and help the people of Voi access basic needs and pursue justice.
The Azimio leader said times are too tough, needs too pressing, and the weather too harsh for anyone to lose a home in the hands of the government.
“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,” he added.
Raila stated that 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,” he said.
He claimed that at daybreak today, a contingent of police officers escorted escorting a demolition squad which invaded over 3000 residents of Msambweni in Voi bringing down several homes on the disputed piece of land.
He said the community had earlier asked the government to compensate them for land acquired by the Standard Gauge Railway to enable them to buy alternative settlements.
