Mavoko squatters urge President Ruto to intervene in land tussle

Squatters living on the embattled East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) land in Athi River, Mavoko Constituency, Machakos County, are now calling on President William Ruto to personally intervene in the ongoing land regularization dispute that has left thousands facing the threat of eviction.

The residents, who have since jumped ship by declaring their support for the Kenya Kwanza administration and joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party, say the situation on the ground has become untenable, and only a presidential directive can bring a lasting resolution.

The calls come amid a tense land regularisation process spearheaded by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), which received the 1,445-hectare piece of land from EAPCC as compensation for an outstanding Ksh.6.8 billion debt.

According to the residents, the process has been marred by allegations of corruption, bribery and broker infiltration, with squatters claiming some individuals are demanding upwards of Ksh.30 million from them in exchange for the security of tenure.

During a community address led by area UDA coordinator Chris Mule on Thursday, the residents voiced their frustrations, with Mule noting that the crisis has taken a toll on families mentally and economically.

“Wamunyoro alileta broker hapa akakuja kusema yeye ni broker wa KCB kumbe ni mlaguzi. Hawa wana UDA wa Mavoko wamedhulumiwa, na macartels. Watu wakijaribu kuongea wanatishiwa kuwekwa kwa Subaru then wanatumia jina ya Rais kusema hii shamba ni ya President Ruto,” said Mule.

Following a recent tour by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who promised to intervene to help address the land scuffle, the community is now expressing confidence that they may finally own the land.

"Nashukuru Kindiki vile umekuja, tumepata mwangaza kwa sababu umesema tunakuja kumiliki hii shamba… usikae sana tusibomolewe," said a local, Regina Syokau.

Residents say that while they are willing to pay a fair fee which will be set by KCB, the high cost of the land and additional financial demands are unreasonable, especially for those who settled on the land over a decade ago.

One of the locals Simon Ngui, a longtime resident, says he settled on the land in 2009 and has since contributed to its development through road construction, electricity and housing.

“The problem is that right now, you cannot even build anything because they have cars surveilling the place ready to arrest you. We know that KCB owes Portland Ksh.6.8 billion and we are ready to come together and pay the money. Hatutaki kuendelea kunyanyaswa sababu tunaogopa and we want the president to intervene,” said Ngui.

“We want to pay KCB so that we get the titles but we ask that let them give us affordable prices. Portland was better but now KCB has skyrocketed the prices to Ksh.5 million which we cannot afford,” he added.

Felister Musembi, a widow to the late community chairman who helped settle many families on the land, also appealed directly to the president lamenting the infiltration of cartels in the land.

"Mimi ni mjane wa marehemu Chairman Musembi ambaye aliunganisha watu hapa. Mr President, when your deputy Kindiki came here, he said he would solve our land issues. KCB and Portland are government entities, na sisi pia ni serikali na tunakuomba tu, ukuje utupee shamba,” she said.

Another local, Florence Loko echoed the sentiments, welcoming President Ruto to Mavoko and urging him to issue title deeds to residents who have lived there since 2009.

“The president is above all, and we are welcoming you to Mavoko. We know you can give the order that those squatters who have been here since 2009 to be given title deeds,” she said.

Regina Syokau decried the long-standing harassment from people claiming to be security officers linked to Portland Cement.

“Mimi ni mkaazi hapa na kwa miaka mitatu tumekuwa tukiangaishwa na cartels wakijiita security ya Portland. Watoto wetu ata hawasomi vizuri. Tunaishi kwa hofu ya kubomolewa kila siku," she said.

At the same time, the residents distanced themselves from the planned Sabasaba protests in various parts of the country, describing them as counterproductive.

Led by Gen Z representative Boniface Mutinda, the youth said they would not participate in the protests, arguing that opposition leaders were hijacking the cause to incite destruction.

UDA women’s wing leader Diana Mueni also urged the youth to heed the counsel of elders and give dialogue and engagement with the government a chance.

During a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko had encouraged residents to take advantage of the regularisation window, even as questions linger over the alleged extortion and high land prices.

KCB official Njuguna Njoroge at the time denied claims of corruption, saying the entire process is accountable and the regularisation fee of Ksh.200,000 per 50 by 100 plot is inclusive of valuation, survey and administration costs.