Reprieve for Athi River residents as KCB begins regularisation of Portland land

Residents of Athi River in Machakos County can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) began the regularisation of East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) land.

The Bank in a consultative meeting held in Mavoko on Wednesday announced plans to sell the land to the locals, vowing not to evict squatters already residing in the said parcel located off Mombasa Road.

Led by KCB’s Group Head of Credit Support Oscar Obuna, the team committed to working with residents through the entire regularisation process where local squatters will first be allowed to register before the bank begins to validate their documents.

After validation, the bank will undertake planning in conjunction with the County government requirements, surveying the land parcels before embarking on the valuation of the land after which the validated owners will be required to pay to receive the title deeds.

“In this journey, our intention is to allow locals to own it (land) so today was the first step to go through that step. In addition to that, I will hold engagements with the locals and will go through the validation of the data that we collected once the process is complete we will go through the planning phase where we will be working with county government and then allow for valuation which will enable us to complete the selling process,” Obuna said.

“Registration process is expected to take 3 weeks and in regard to the issue of the amount that the land will be sold, we are clear that up to now we don’t have a price.”

KCB, which claimed the ownership of the land previously belonging to EAPCC, said that residents who would be unable to meet the required prices after the valuation process may access loans from the same bank to settle land arrears by using the title as collateral.

On how the bank acquired the land from Portland, KCB revealed that it owed EAPCC a loan and when the cement manufacturer company defaulted on its payment the bank remained as the sole owner.

Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko who presided over the process implored squatters to ensure they are formally registered to avoid being evicted.

Citing the recent demolitions near Athi River town last year, she termed the move by KCB to regularise the land ‘God-given’ reassuring the residents that if they heed the bank’s terms, no forced evictions would be done.

“Leo tunasema kirasmi kwamba yule mtu anaishi kwa shamba hatatolewa kwa shamba yake. This is a God-given chance, take advantage of it. Don’t lose this opportunity and don’t go with the crowd. First thing, register yourself so that it reflects that you have the will and will try to meet the ownership requirements,” she said.

The move was welcomed by area leaders and residents who appealed to the bank to consider reducing the prices of 50 by 100 parcels after valuation prices, owing to the current economic times. They also pleaded to be given enough time to make their payments without anyone being evicted.

“I want to politely ask KCB that the process which has begun today, you sell the land at a low and fair price and also give members enough time to pay. For our members, please cooperate and pay so that you can be given your title deed,” Syokimau Community Association Chairman Francisco Ngei Mutua said.

Mavoko Member of Parliament Patrick Makau lauded KCB for coming clean and engaging the residents to avert inhumane evictions and ensure they are given an opportunity to own property.

“Serikali ni wananchi; with a lot of respect to KCB, I would ask the bank to lower the registration fee from Ksh.200,000 to Ksh.100,000. I know that you as the bank are aware of the majority of our salaries. Most of our people here are retirees, the jobless,” he said.

“If anyone was earning about Ksh.100,000 at the time, there was no SHA, SHIF or Housing Levy. Currently, things are difficult.”

At the same time, the MP sustained attacks at Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti accusing her of undermining him.

Makau took a swipe at Governor Ndeti and her deputy Francis Mwangangi blaming them for the spate of insults and political witch-hunt after the former expressed interest in the governorship seat in 2027.

"Some people have lost purpose why they are in leadership...but let's not hate each other because of our intentions to run for governor in 2027. For now, we respect the governor."

The lawmaker’s remarks come after a viral video of the deputy governor was shared across social media where he verbally insulted the MP for his interest in the governorship seat.

“I am disappointed that the guy from Mavoko who is a brother to your governor says he wants her seat. How can you transfer power within the same family? The man has no shame, he is hiring youths to insult the governor who is your elected leader,” he said.

“The same fellow paid people to say that the governor was arrested in the UK with more than Ksh.600 million meant to build a hospital there.”