Some residents have been rendered homeless after their houses were pulled down in the ongoing demolitions in Mavoko, Machakos County.

The affected residents are those who, according to county officials, erected structures said to be on riparian land in the Githunguri area, thereby blocking waterways.

Leopards’ midfield maestro Otieno insists title dream is still alive Football

SDT blocks FKF ouster bid, cites Fifa probe Football

The demolitions are being carried out by the Machakos County Government following recent flooding experienced in the area.

Justus Kitemo, the Tala-Kangundo Municipality manager, has been supervising the operations since they commenced a week ago.

Kitemo said the demolitions were meant to clear structures and houses constructed along rivers and on riparian land, and to protect residents from dangers posed by flooding.

He said the Governor Wavinya Ndeti administration’s intervention followed public outcry over frequent flooding incidents experienced in various areas in Machakos County, including Utawala and Githunguri, where the demolitions are taking place.

“We have for the last one week experienced serious flooding in Githunguri. Lives have been threatened,” Kitemo said.

Kitemo addressed reporters during the demolitions along the Silicon River on Wednesday.

He said county government bulldozers would not pull down any structures that are not on riparian land, but only those marked by the devolved unit’s surveyors.

“We have three rivers in Githunguri, including this Silicon River, all of which we are opening up. We are determined to remove all structures on riparian land and waterways so that water can flow downstream without blockage,” Kitemo said.

Residents living in the affected areas had mixed reactions to the demolitions, with victims counting losses running into millions of shillings.

Some residents had their houses completely pulled down, while others lost sections of their houses, fences, gates, and businesses.

Linda Kerubo is among those whose houses were completely flattened by a bulldozer during the demolitions.

Kerubo said she lost the only house she had called home for the last 12 years. The two-bedroom house, built on a 50 by 100-metre plot, was entirely brought down alongside a perimeter wall and gate.

She claimed the county government gave them only a one-day notice to vacate before the demolitions. Kerubo also questioned why her house was flattened while her neighbours’ houses were left untouched.

“My house was demolished by the County Government of Machakos last Friday after they issued me with a notice on Thursday, a day before the demolitions. My plot used to flood, but it is not a river,” Kerubo said.

“I am homeless. I have lost everything. Some household items were stolen during the demolitions. I don’t have money to pay rent,” she said.

The single mother of one said she lost her job in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and now survives on menial jobs.

Kerubo said she bought the plot for Sh900,000 and paid another Sh100,000 for its transfer from the previous owner.

Monica Atieno, also a resident of Glory Court Estate in Githunguri, had part of her perimeter wall pulled down.

The widow said she was away when the demolitions were conducted and only her children were in the one-storey maisonette.

“I have lived here for 14 years. My perimeter wall has been demolished, as you can see. I was away in the village when it was pulled down,” Atieno said.

Kitemo admitted that the notice was short, as claimed by the victims, but termed the situation an emergency.

“Anything that threatens life, we take as an emergency, and the rains continue. The short notice was due to the threat to life,” Kitemo said.

Paul Otieno said he lost a car wash business that he had leased out to six youths who depended on it for their livelihoods. The car wash had been operated by James Ndeda for five years.

Otieno, a resident of Utawala for six years, said he was in hospital when the car wash was demolished.

Avewa Estate resident Francis Munyalo said they wrote to the Machakos County Government over alleged encroachment on riparian land and waterways by some individuals in their neighbourhood.

Munyalo said this prompted the ongoing demolitions.

“We have been here for the last 15 years. Whenever it rains, our 15 members who have houses along the riparian land suffer due to flash floods. Houses get flooded and at times we are forced to relocate families. We have suffered for long,” Munyalo said.

“We raised the issue because some people have constructed houses on riparian land, which is why some of our members suffer. We nearly lost an elderly resident of the estate who stays next to the riparian land because some people have built houses there, thereby blocking waterways,” Munyalo added.

Kitemo said all those with structures on riparian land should vacate before they are demolished by the county government.