“The land, leased to East African Portland Cement Company Limited, has started being grabbed, sub-divided and sold, without the knowledge of the East African Portland Cement Company Limited Board and my Government of Machakos. According to the Portland Board, documents in their possession show that the leases are far from expiring,” read the letter in part.
“Our initial investigations show that squatters were imported to the said land a few months ago to create the environment for land invasion and grabbing.”
The former Governor further claimed wealthy individuals had moved in and blatantly started building mansions on the land against the law.
“Already, people have been sold plots and started constructing. My Government has not approved sub-division, planning or building permits. Many people, we suspect, have been conned. If this matter is not handled expeditiously, we fear that it may culminate in bloodshed,” he added.
The letter was copied to the then Lands CS Fred Matiang’i, Former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and former National Lands Commission Chairman Mohammed Swazuri.
It, however, remains unclear whether the authorities acted on the letter in question.
On Friday, Ruto ordered the grabbed land to be recovered and transferred to the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Athi River.
Source: kenyans.co.ke
