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Sunday, October 15, 2023 –Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti has taken issue with President William Ruto over the ongoing Athi River demolitions.
Speaking from the demolition scene in her area, the first-time governor, on Saturday October 14, lamented about being shortchanged by President William Ruto despite him having promised to halt the destruction of homes built on East Africa Portland Cement land in Machakos.
In her strong account, Governor Ndeti disclosed that she had phoned the head of State in the morning seeking help from the higher office to halt the demolitions; what Ruto promised to stop only for bulldozers to surface in Athi River minutes later.
She also said, after demolitions had started, she called the head of State to update and remind him about their discussion only for Ruto not to pick calls.
“I want to tell his excellence the president, you have been talking about Bottom Up. You spoke about taking care of these small people and now you are hurting them instead.
“I talked to you today morning and you promised me your help. What is going on?” she cried in a clip seen by Homenews.Co.ke.
Ms Ndeti went on to claim that she was saddened to learn that the same Ruto who had promised to stop the demolition exercise, had quietly flown out of the country.
“I am deeply aggrieved after witnessing the suffering of the dozens of Machakos residents, whose homes were demolished yesterday by East Africa Portland Company Limited under the supervision of the Kenya Police and the General Service Unit (GSU).
“I condemn in the strongest terms possible the heinous acts of demolitions of property of people on their land. As a County Government, we wonder why it was difficult to involve us before these actions were undertaken,” she added.
In another statement, the county boss claimed that government security agencies proceeded with the demolitions of the multimillion homes without issuing any early notice as it is required by law.
“It is partially disappointing that the process was unnecessarily rushed despite the fact that there were ongoing high – level discussions between the President and I on the matter,” again said Wavinya.
So far, the governor said, at least five churches, several homesteads and schools have since been brought down by the bulldozers, children and mothers are out in the cold despite El Nino rains beckoning.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, however, questioned the manner in which the land transactions took place in Athi River.
“When you retain the service of Brian Mwenda and buy land belonging to Portland Cement Company using fake titles issued by an MP and you build a house like this…you deserve what you get. Very short cut is a wrong cut!” Lawyer Abdullahi commented.
A resident in Athi River, Boniface Mwangi, would also explain that some of key leaders working in cahoots with land cartels in the area sold unsuspecting genuine buyers the stolen property.
He also pointed out that this was happening under the watch of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations DCI officials.
The human rights activist challenged the authorities to single out those who made the faulty transactions of the said land so that they can be charged in the court of law.
