Western Regional Commissioner speaks on Kakamega demolitions

By Peter Ochieng

Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia has broken his silence over the ongoing demolition of posh houses in Kakamega's Milimani estate.

According to Macharia, the houses were built on government land, adding that the recovery process started on 1st September, 2023, when a vacate notice was issued.

He said demolitions started on 23rd November, upon expiry of the notice.

"We have done our best to try and recover that land in Milimani Bloc B from the people who took it. The exercise began on September 1, and we have been doing it until November 23. That is when the first demolition was done. We have been doing the demolitions every day, and we are near completion," said Macharia.

"There's no sacred cow in this operation. Everyone who is there will face the demolitions. It doesn't matter who you are, as long as you are on public land,” he added.

Some of the people whose houses were demolished claimed that no vacate notice had been issued. Macharia however said that those with valid documents should have nothing to worry.

"When we request supporting documents and you have a lease and document from the county showing that you have been paying land rates, most of the cases with land are caused by a lack of supporting documents, otherwise we conclude that you stole public land,” Macharia said.

He assured Kenyans that the government will put the land in proper use, with reports indicating that it will be used to put up affordable housing units.

Others have even claimed that the land may end up in wrong hands, a claim Macharia refutes.

“There had been talk that we are demolishing property so that we can give it to other people. But we want to assure citizens that this is a job we have been given to ensure public land goes back to the public. This land will revert back to the government. We are not just taking it to stay idle. We will use it for government development projects."

The demolitions have been met by looting sprees from sections of Kakamega residents.

Some of them were shocked to find turtles and a python in one of the demolished houses.