IG Koome recalls Coast region police bosses over Taita Taveta demolitions

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has directed an inquiry into the land eviction exercise that occurred on Saturday in Voi, Taita Taveta County.

The IG has recalled Coast Region police commanders, Taita Taveta County Police Commander, and Voi sub-county police commander to the Kenya police headquarters to pave way for the inquiry.

He stated that action will be taken against any officer found culpable of carrying out the said demolition without the necessary authorization.

This comes as over 3,000 families in the Msambweni area will spend the night in the cold after their houses were demolished by Sparkles Properties Limited, which claims ownership of the piece of land they used to call home.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga, together with Taita Taveta leaders, have since condemned the demolitions that were carried out under the supervision of a contingent of police officers.

“From Mavoko to Kakamega, Thika, and Mombasa and today in Voi, the government seems to be pursuing a policy of evicting people from their settlements using utmost pain inflicted at the most desperate moments," Mr. Odinga wrote in a statement.

"At daybreak today, over 3000 residents of Msambweni in Voi were invaded by a contingent of police officers escorting a demolition squad that has so far brought down several homes on a disputed piece of land."