Kwa Bulo Squatters in Mombasa have asked the National Government to intervene from being evicted by an insurance company claiming ownership of  85 acres of the land.

More than 10,000 residents from the Kwa Bulo estate within Nyali sub-county in Mombasa affected by eviction  have called upon the government to intervene.

Former Nyali Mp Bolo Awiti addressing more than 10,000 residents from the Kwa Bulo estate within Nyali sub-county in Mombasa affected by eviction notice. Photo: Jane Mwanza/Correspondent.Africa

This comes after they received a vacation notice. An insurance company claims to own 85 acres of the land.

Former Nyali Member of Parliament Mr. Hezron Awiti said he has written a letter to the President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to intervene on their behalf. He claimed that Mombasa County Governor Ali Hassan Joho has failed them.

“We had surveyed all squatters land in Mombasa and we agreed in the parliament that the minister of planning to come in Mombasa to take the measurement. The title deeds process should have started by now after that the president himself came to Mombasa,  whereby he gave an order that all the lands should be divided and given to citizens at the governments expense. On the other hand, Governor Joho himself promised to take responsibility of Kwa Bulo. We don’t understand what has changed in between that now they are demanding for the squatters to pay for it,” said Awiti.

In his statement,  Awiti said,  during his tenure as Nyali MP in 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Parliamentary Land Committee visited the area. The National Land Commission was ordered to resolve the stalemate and settle the squatters.

“Every time we are around an election, it is when we hear all these kind land cases. But,  once the elections are over, we don’t hear it. I think this is part of their plans to sell these lands to their richest friends and land grabber. Because, the residents can’t afford to pay for these land. I want to tell them that we are going to stand strong together and win against them,”’ Awiti concluded.

The squatter’s chairman Mr. Omar Kalama said the alleged owners of the disputed land are forcing the squatters to pay land rates ranging from 2 million to 10 million shillings inorder to continue occupying the parcels.

“We have been leaving with demolishing threats for years. Now,  they want to evict us because they are forcing us to accept their offer of money through a letter. A public notice is indicating gives us an ultimatum to pay land rates with some households receiving bills as high as Ksh2 million,  and some as up to Ksh10.5millions. Honestly, we can’t afford to pay these amount of money and we are not going to pay for it. That is why we are appealing to the government to intervene and pay these business people. Come elections time, we will boycott,” said chairman

According to the Chairman,  the over 10,000 victims’ of  Kwa Bulo is not comparable to the number of the about 15,000 families residing in Mombasa Central Business District under absentee landlords.

The government has increased the national water coverage from 53.3 per cent in 2013 to 70 per cent in 2022 which has enabled 34.8 million people to have access to safe and clean drinking water.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki said that additionally, the sewerage coverage has gone up from 22 per cent in 2013 to presently 29 per cent in urban areas.

Speaking at Maji House while giving a report on the status of the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) of the projects across the country, Kariuki said that the Ministry is on course to ensure that the water coverage moves to 80 per cent and sanitation of sewerage coverage to 40 per cent by the end of 2022.

The CS also pointed out that there was an increase of areas under irrigation from 350,000 acres to presently 650,000 acres.

“To date we have a portfolio of 685 projects cutting across water, sanitation and irrigation that is being implemented at various stages of execution,” she said.

Furthermore, she cited that since the introduction of the RRI, several projects have been completed while those still pending have been put on fast track saying that some of the finished projects include the Naivasha Industrial Park, Mavoko water supply, Homa Bay cluster water project among others.

The CS revealed that the RRI which is a result-based process enabled fast tracking of implementation of the Ministry’s priority programmes and also led to increased efficiency and faster project completion rate as well as realisation of the value for money of the current investment.

She highlighted that new project have been processed and will contribute to the progressive realisation of human rights to water and sanitation.

“Today I have launched the fifth wave of RRI project which aims to increase the area under irrigation by an additional 8,257 acres,” she said.

Moreover, the CS announced that 64 projects are ready for commissioning and will benefit about 2.7 million people who will have for the first-time access to safe clean drinking water.

By Mary Wangari and Fardosa Bonaya

A family in Kisii has a reason to smile after a well-wisher built for them a new three-roomed house. Richard Jimmy and his family have been spending sleepless nights in a leaking house.

Speaking during the handing over of the house, Mr Richard-the beneficiary, said that he had a difficult and challenging life after his parents perished. He thanked James Onkaki, for building a house for them in  Nyankongo village, Kitutu Chache South within Kisii County.

Richard said that he has been living in the leaking, mud-walled, single-room house. His tribulations worsened whenever it rained at night. “We used to converge in one corner with my children to avoid being rained on, “he said.

Richard Jimmy beneficiary( left) James Onkanki ( Right) at Nyankongo village the handing over the new constructed house photo/Elizabeth Angira

MS Fostina Ogake, his grandmother,  challenged other politicians to give hands to vulnerable families. “This is the strange thing we have witnessed from a politician,” Ms Ogake said. She challenged other politicians to emulate examples from Mr Onkaki who has the virtues of a good leader. She stated that their condition is going to change after they got a new three-bedroom house.

The residents applauded Mr Onkaki for his generosity and challenged themselves to vote for leaders who support change, growth and development. He challenged the electorates to choose visionary leaders.

“I know we are in the electioneering period, let’s not allow some politicians to come up with empty promises and vote wisely,” Mr Onkaki said.

He faulted some leaders for engaging in empty political rhetoric and no track records instead of addressing pertinent issues affecting the public. Moreover, Mr Ongaki asked Kenyans to elect people who can stand for the truth and dedicate their time to serve Kenyans and their challenges.

According to him, most people languish from poverty due to unemployment leading to the vulnerable ones not affording even the basic needs.

“It really hurts me some section of politicians would pledge to make empty promises to the innocent electorates, after they are elected, they don’t fulfil such promises, “he said. Mr Onkaki is going to vie for a parliamentary seat in Kitutu Chache South. He said that if elected he is going to support groups, improve road networks, among other projects.

Those who are in the race for the Kitutu Chache South Parliamentary seat are Pius Abuki, Andrew Maubi, Samuel Omwando, and Youth Secretary in the Office of the Deputy President Anthony Kibagendi among others.