Victims of the ongoing evictions on the East African Portland Cement land in Athi River have started recording statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Those who lost their money in what has turned out to be a well-orchestrated land fraud on Wednesday visited the DCI offices at Athi River police station.
The demolition of structures on the land started last Friday.
A detective told the Star that there were two categories of victims in the investigations -those who dealt directly with Aimi Ma Lukenya Society and those who dealt with the proprietors who purchased their plots from Aima Ma Lukenya Society.
Those recording statements are expected to present documentations to prove land ownership, transfer or evidence on sale transactions for investigations to start.
The Star established that majority of the victims hold a share certificate belonging to Aimi Ma Lukenya Society.
At least 30 victims had recorded their statements when the Star visited Athi River DCI offices.
The desk will be operational for several days to allow the victims to record their statements.
Victim Jennifer Musau said they bought an acre for Sh1.8 million. She said they cleared the payment of Sh420,000 balance a week before the demolitions started.
“We are members of Nyamwash Self Help Group. We bought the land in instalments through our savings,” she said.
Musau said 22 members of the group wanted to construct homes on the land.
She said they were sold to the parcel by a person well known to them and paid through a local bank.
Each of the members was provided with a ‘certificate of ownership’ with Komarock Ranching Society letter head.
Another victim, James Ayoo, 45, said he bought his 50 by 100 plot from one of his friends at Sh200,000 and erected a three-bedroom bungalow valued at Sh3.5 million. This is where he has been living with his family.
“I’m moving out now since the house is yet to be demolished. I just hustled from my mechanic job to save for both the land and house construction,” Ayoo said.
Ayoo said he has been left with no option but to rent a house in Kitengela town, Kajiado county. He said his family members are traumatised since their home was going to be pulled down.
Justine Nyakundi’s story isn’t different. He said he bought his 50 by 100 at Sh300,000 in 2019.
The 29-year-old said he had bought construction materials worth Sh400,000 which he wanted to use to build a home.
“I bought the plot from a person who said he was a director of that land. I was issued by a share certificate by the man well known to me. I paid the first instalment through a bank account and the second via M-Pesa,” Nyakundi said.
