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Msambweni demolitions, over 3,500 residents face homelessness

A bulldozer demolishing houses on the disputed parcel of land in Voi

By Paul Aginnah | Saturday, January 6, 2024

In Msambweni, Voi, Taita Taveta County, more than 3,500 squatters are on the verge of homelessness.

In Msambweni, Voi, Taita Taveta County, more than 3,500 squatters are on the verge of homelessness as demolitions initiated by a developer commenced on Saturday morning. The County Commander, Patrick Okeri, is overseeing the demolition, conducted by bulldozers and a team of police officers.

This action follows a court order instructing the squatters to vacate the 90-acre land, claimed to be owned by Sparkle Properties Limited. The landowner plans to construct a shopping mall and asserts that the land was purchased from Bata. However, the squatters, residing on the land since 1963, argue they've never received compensation from Bata or the developer.

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The longstanding dispute escalated in March 2023 when the Court of Appeal upheld the developer's ownership, ordering the squatters to pay Ksh 1 million in compensation and case costs. Efforts to halt demolitions by local leaders, including Governor Andrew Mwadime and MP Abdi Chome, were unsuccessful.

Squatters, feeling helpless, appeal to President William Ruto for intervention, expressing nowhere else to go. They blame the developer for using the court system and criticize the government for failing to protect them. While supporting development, they oppose perceived injustice, calling for compensation or alternative land. The affected residents plead for humanitarian assistance to rebuild their lives.

Bahati Mwakio, a mother of four, says, "They have destroyed our homes and left us homeless. We are suffering and we need help. We ask the President to hear our cry and rescue us from this distress."

Francis Mulili, General Manager of Sparkle Properties, insists they followed legal procedures, expressing a desire to negotiate rather than evict. Despite failed attempts at peaceful engagement, he emphasizes using the law to reclaim their property.