CAPTION: Nairobi senator Mike Sonko, Deputy President William Ruto and former MP Kalembe Ndile address the public in Athi River, Machakos County on Wednesday.
Nairobi senator Mike Sonko has asked Jubilee administration to resettle Mavoko squatters on land belonging to East African Portland Cement Company land in Athi River town.
Sonko said the locals from Kamba community initially lived on the land since 1970 before it was acquired by the government for EAPCC ‘s operations.
He said some of the squatters’ great grandparents had been buried on the land.
Accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, Sonko spoke in Athi River town during Ruto’s voter registration sensitization campaign in Machakos County on Wednesday.
“There are several Kamba societies currently occupying the EAPCC land each having more than 6,000 members,” said Sonko.
“Our agenda as Jubilee is development, we want what the state did to Waitiki squatters done here. I ask the government to resettle Kambas on their Kamba land,” said Sonko.
Sonko said the Kamba community is ready to campaign and vote for Jubilee if it resettles the locals on the land and issue them with title deeds before the August, 8 elections.
“The societies are ready to campaign and ensure Jubilee’s re-election if it issues Mavoko squatters with title deeds before election,” said Sonko.
"Remedy of squatters is title deeds,” he added.
Sonko said the coalition government failed to resettle the Mavoko squatters.
He said residents had constructed many houses on the land and set aside land for public utility like school, hospital, church and police station.
In response to Sonko’s request, Ruto said the government will look into the issue.
“EAPCC had planned to sell the land, as a government we told them that the land should not be sold,” said Ruto.
He said the state will not demolish squatters houses already constructed on the land.
Ruto said he will sit down with the president and reach a decision on the matter.
He said the Jubilee administration had issued 2.4 million title deeds to Kenyans across the country.
Sonko urged the residents to register and re-elect Jubilee if it resettles them on the land.
He said 2% of EAPCC procedures should develop Machakos County.