Mavoko squatters living in fear of demolitions amid alleged police harassment

Squatters occupying the contested East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) land in Athi River, Mavoko Constituency, are living in fear as claims of harassment by police and private brokers allegedly linked to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) continue to mount.

The residents, some of whom have occupied the land since as early as 2009, now say they are living in fear of demolitions and intimidation, despite an ongoing land regularisation process spearheaded by KCB.

On Wednesday, several residents recounted instances where police allegedly accompanied unidentified individuals who destroyed gates and threatened property owners without court orders.

One of the plot owners, Geoffrey Matheka, said the process had turned exploitative and called on President William Ruto to intervene.

“Portland is charging us Ksh.600,000 to Ksh.700,000 per plot - now KCB is telling us to pay Ksh.1.6 million, which is a higher price than what Portland is saying. Mr President, please, intervene and check on this, we are your people. Sisi hatutaki kunyanyaswa na police. The President alisema the police will be protecting us from thieves and cartels,” he said.

Bonface Muema, a hotelier operating within the contested area, said his premises had been raided by police under unclear circumstances.

“We came and found this area cordoned off by police officers who allege that there is one plot in this area which has not been paid for. They have broken the gate, chased us away without a court order. The people organising the whole thing are saying they are from KCB, but we don’t know them,” he said.

Muema said the harassment had affected his staff and clients, as he also accused individuals claiming to represent the bank of failing to negotiate with locals and frustrating efforts to develop the land.

“Some of my workers and customers have been forced to run away and right now, we are living in fear. We don’t know what they are planning and the place is no longer peaceful,” he stated.

“The people claiming to be from KCB have been frustrating us, saying that we have not paid for the land. They don’t want to negotiate because their prices are very high, and every time we try to build something, they refuse.”

The area village elder, Fidelis Maanzo narrated a disturbing incident he witnessed involving heavily armed police and demolition crews.

He said, “I came and found a lorry with GSU officers and a land cruiser destroying the gates. When we asked, they said the owner is not compliant with payments. When KCB regularised this land, we agreed to pay and the owner has not said they will not pay, but they don’t want to listen.”

Maanzo further accused police of doing the work of land agents, calling on the government to act.

“Police officers are being used to frustrate the people. I want to ask the President and Interior minister why the work of surveyors is being done by the police. Hapa kumekuwa na dhuluma. I am wondering why the gates of our people are being destroyed. My President, we are tired of being frustrated by brokers. We want peaceful terms to be able to pay KCB without such problems,” he noted.

The Mavoko land dispute stems from the transfer of 1,445 hectares of EAPCC land to KCB in exchange for a Ksh.6.8 billion debt.

While the bank has initiated a regularisation process priced at Ksh.200,000 per 50 by 100 plot, residents claim they are being asked for much more—and in some cases, subjected to extortion, violence and fear.

Despite earlier promises by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to intervene, residents say the situation on the ground remains volatile, and they now want President Ruto to personally step in and ensure a fair, transparent, and peaceful resolution.