Raila Is Chased Away From Athi River Demolitions
Raila Is Chased Away From Athi River Demolitions
Raila Is Chased Away From Athi River Demolitions
Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, was unable to enter the Portland Demolitions Site on Tuesday. The officer in charge of the demolitions claimed in a video that Raila and his group would obstruct the work in progress.
The previous leader was told to come back the next week. “We are not acting improperly. The officer maintained his position, saying, “We are doing what needs to be done, which is giving this area back to the public. “You can continue to conduct your meeting elsewhere and meet people elsewhere but not here,” he stated.
The ODM leader insisted on entering the area and accused the government of being responsible for the present demolitions that have rendered hundreds of Kenyans homeless. “Allow us to pass as we want to see what’s going on,” he said. The officer answered, “We will not allow because we know what you want to do,” and said he would not let them in until the clearing procedure was through. Leader of the Wiper party Kalonzo Musyoka, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, and others were in attendance with Raila.
A group of officers led the political leaders away from the scene after the altercation. A short while afterwards, Raila spoke to the media and charged that President Ruto’s administration had broken its vow to safeguard Kenyans’ rights. He questioned why the poor families who were now left to fend for themselves on the streets without even the most basic shelter and with El Nino rains impending were the targets of the demolitions.
“Forced eviction is taking place here, a crime Ruto swore to stop in July of last year. At a time when the administration claims to be working to ensure that everyone has shelter, it is a flagrant infringement of the right to appropriate housing, Raila said. “What is happening here shows a systematic disdain by the State for accepted human rights principles.
The afflicted families—some of whom are among the lowest of the poor and members of the emerging middle class—have seen lifetime savings destroyed and reduced to ashes. He also questioned why the government chose to employ force against Kenyans rather than resettling the victims through the Settlement Fund.
He pleaded on the head of state to put a stop to the demolitions and inform the nation of the short-term plans for making up for the lost property.
“What is this significant and pressing use of the property where demolition was carried out, which so significantly outweighed people’s lives and savings? What is this pressing need that might prevent folks from leaving by, say, next year? “Are there private interests masquerading as public interests?” he asked.
Does the East African Portland Cement realize that there are ways for people to protest against it and perhaps put an end to its existence as a business? We are discussing individuals who most certainly used the company’s cement to build homes, only for those homes to be destroyed in the company’s name, right?
On Saturday, October 13, after Ruto instructed the Ministry of Lands to revoke title deeds for land that had not been developed in the area for more than 10 years, the government began the demolitions in Athi River.
