Caption: Deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding at a past event. Photo source: www.captialfm.co.ke
Several families have been left in a state of dilemma after an investor evicted them from his 300-acre piece of land.
According to 31 families, who were living on the land until yesterday, the investor did not present them with any notice before the eviction.
The families claim that they have been residing on the land since 1996. They also lamented about the great losses they suffered following the eviction.
“We have lost everything – all our houses, cattle, sheep, goats and crops were destroyed during the evictions,” Joseph Muia said, one of the evicted persons, as Star quoted.
The families, which are made up mainly of elderly men, women and their grandchildren, were compelled to walk for several Kilometers in the scorching sun to seek for assistance from deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding at his office in Athi River town.
On his part, Omoding said that the eviction was undertaken following an order from the court adding that there is nothing he can do on the matter.
He also faulted the leaders for failing to inform the residents about the eviction in good time since the eviction notice had been issued on January.
“Athi River police executed a court order. The officers offered security to people hired by the investor to conduct the evictions early in the morning,” Omoding said.
He asked them to file a case in the court over compensation, adding that squatters are like other Kenyans who need attention from the corridors of justice.