Sugar baron Rai’s palatial property demolished in Kakamega town
By Douglas Dindi, November 29, 2023
West Kenya Sugar Company chairman Jaswant Singh Rai suffered a setback yesterday when his palatial home and rental property in Kakamega town was demolished to give way to the government’s affordable housing project
Bulldozers backed by police officers descended on the home in Kakamega’s State Lodge neighbourhood in the leafy Milimani suburb at 7am to effect seven-day eviction notice dated September 6, were served on the landlord.
President William Ruto commissioned the affordable housing project for Kakamega in Milimani estate during his last visit to the area in September.
Rai acquired the developed property by virtue of his acquisition of the West Kenya Sugar Company from Sunil Patel, heir of Bikkhu Patel. Former cabinet minister Joshua Angatia was allocated the plot by Kanu and he sold it to Bikkhu, who developed it.
Civil suits
Earlier, the bulldozers demolished retired land valuer Odongo Kabita’s rental apartments within the Milimani Block 2 section within Kakamega Municipality. A dozen civil suits have been lined up at the Kakamega High Court to contest the demolitions.
Yesterday, Western regional commissioner Samson Macharia told PD the demolition will continue after the lapse of the seven-day notice. “There are some who have challenged the eviction notices in court. But the exercise will continue.”
A Kakamega High court judge who has been Rai’s tenant, two tortoises and a python that inhabited the business mogul’s palatial home on an adjacent compound must now find an alternative abode after the demolition.
The tortoises and the snake were carted away to safety by Rai’s agents on the scene amid unwelcome public glare just on time before prying officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) arrived.