MACHAKOS,Kenya, June 4 – Over 100 residents will be spending the night in the cold for the second night running after their homes were illegally demolished in Ngelani, village in Mavoko by suspected goons Thursday night amidst wide spread protest.
The houses according to residents and police were demolished following an ongoing land dispute.
Athi River sub-county police commander Anderson Njagi told Shahidi News that the demolitions were illegal since the person claiming ownership of the land did not posses a valid eviction notice.
He also refuted claims that police were part of the demolitions despite residents account of uniformed, armed police Thursday night threatening their lives.
10 suspected goons engaged in the illegal demolitions were beaten up by the angry residents before police quickly whisked them to safety.
One of the residents was arrested and is being held at the Athi River police station.
The alleged person also claiming ownership police say has been engaged in the land dispute with an elderly woman, 80 year-old Mary Muli over the 67 acres piece of land. Muli inherited the land from her deceased husband.
The land is inhabited mostly by her relatives and extended family.
The residents said that they acquired the parcel of land in 1965 after settling on it 2 years earlier from a colonial settler.
The alleged persons are said to have descended on their home at around 5am, Thursday.
“We were sleeping in the morning and my son came and woke me up saying things are bad, and that police were on their way, we came out saw police who greeted me, armed with guns. They did not utter a word initially only asking where is the owner of the house.” said Agnes Kioko
Agnes further said that they started demolishing the home and threatened to arrest her.
It was only hours later when she returned home and found her house demolished.
“we have become refugees on our own parcel of land, where do they want us to go How can they call us trespassers and this land belongs to our father? said another teary resident, Jackline Makau
The residents are now counting loses after their properties were destroyed in a dispute spanning months.
Some have allegedly been arrested for refusing to vacate their homes which the family priests.
“We need help from the government, those people said they will even come tonight (Friday) and demolish our homes,” said a resident,Kyalo Munyao.
The family claim to have documents proving ownership of the land this as they continue to raise questions why they are being evicted despite the matter already being in court.
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