Raila Odinga: Gov’t must stop demolition of properties
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has condemned ongoing demolitions across the country saying it is a dreadful eviction plan adopted by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
In a statement on Saturday, January 6, 2024, Raila accused President William Ruto's regime of "...pursuing a policy of evicting people from their settlements using utmost pain inflicted at the most desperate moments."
While sampling a few areas including Mavoko, Kakamega, Thika, Mombasa and Voi where demolitions are ongoing, the opposition leader called for an acceptable resolution for all parties in settling land disputes.
Raila demanded that the ongoing demolitions in Voi stop with immediate effect challenging Ruto to live up to his pledge that forceful eviction would not be entertained by his administration.
"We call on the government to immediately stop the demolitions currently underway in Voi and any other part of the country. We remind Ruto that during the campaigns, he promised that forceful evictions and demolition of dwellings would be a thing of the past. Ruto 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," Raila stated.
Further, the ODM leader appealed to humanitarian organizations and human rights bodies to move in and help affected people pursue justice.
"I have taken time to speak to different categories of community leaders in Voi and they have assured me of their commitment to finding a solution that is acceptable to all parties to the dispute. The community had earlier asked the government to compensate them for land acquired by the SGR, to enable them to buy alternative settlements. That has not happened.
"As the community prepared to meet this afternoon, demolition started early morning. The entire leadership of the National Government Administration Officers in the county has refused to respond to distress calls of residents and instead gone into hiding. This is happening in the middle of difficult economic times, and as parents prepare to send their children to school on Monday. Kenyans don’t deserve this amount of cruelty," Raila Odinga stated.
