Government responds over claims well connected individuals behind Athi River demolitions
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Government dismisses claims demolitions of homes in Athi River land is backed by well connected individuals/ investors who want to purchase the land
Government dismisses claims demolitions of homes in Athi River land is backed by well connected individuals/ investors who want to purchase the land.
The Privatisation Commission of Kenya on Sunday refuted reports of plans to sell East African Portland Cement to private investors amid demolition of squatters homes.
This came out as after a social media post that went viral stating that Kenya Pipeline and other key parastatals were up for sale.
The viral post coincided with the demolition of buildings on the Portland Cement that has seen Kenyans lose property worth billions.
“Kindly note the programme in circulation on social media is fake,” the Commission stated.
Although accurate, the information in the post comes from decisions made during a cabinet meeting on August 12, 2009, which was presided over by the late Mwai Kibaki.
The cabinet approved the privatization of 26 companies, including Portland Cement.
Other key companies that had been put up for sale included KenGen, sections of Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya co-operative Creameries, and Kenya Meat Commission.
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The plan was reversed on October 9 by President William Ruto’s cabinet, who noted that only underperforming businesses would be privatized.
The government claims that those who live there obtained the land unlawfully, which has put the Portland Cement facility in Athi River at the center of dispute.
The process of kicking people out of the expansive land started in November 2022, when former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria revealed that the government had plans to use the facility for cargo storage.
“East African Portland Company will not turn out to be a centre for the land transaction, we have the plan to utilise the land in question by constructing the first Kenya cargo airport,” Kuria stated adding that the government would not be intimidated by squatters.
The government kickstarted the demolitions on Saturday, October 13, a day after Ruto ordered the Ministry of Land to revoke titles of land that have not been developed in Athi River for over 10 years.
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