Kakamega: Uproar as Over 100 Tenants are Evicted from Amalemba Houses
- At least 100 families who have been living in Amalemba estate within Kakamega Town will have to find new homes
- The county government of Kakamega on Sunday, June 29, followed through on their threats to evict all the tenants
- Some of the tenants now claim their eviction was carried out in violation of the law and only meant to benefit a few individuals
- However, Kakamega County Lands Executive Committee Member (CECM), Anjelah Silima Muchai, defended the move
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Over 100 families in Amalemba estate on the outskirts of Kakamega Town have been left homeless after the county government of Kakamega evicted them from the houses they have been living in for the last 57 years.
Source: Original
The families, who had been sharing 20 houses, were issued with an eviction notice early this month by the county. They have been accused of living in the houses illegally.
But as the Kakamega county makes good their threats, the affected families are up in arms, claiming they have been paying rent for all the years they have stayed in the house.
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They now claim their eviction is part of an effort by senior county officials to take over the houses.
"We have been paying rent, and to date, we are not aware of the reason the county has evicted us. They gave us a short notice and yesterday, they came and removed doors and windows from our houses,” said Salim Jume, one of the affected tenants.
According to the evicted individuals, the process did not follow the laid-down procedure.
Some claimed they were making payments towards fully owning the houses, which are now set to be renovated and used by county employees.
"These houses were built in 1968 and handed over to us. We have been paying to own them, and some have even completed payments, but the county has decided to move us. How will we be compensated or get our money back? We voted overwhelmingly for our leaders, but now we are their victims," Salim lamented.
Why were Amalemba tenants evicted?
According to the Kakamega Lands County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Anjelah Silima Muchai, the houses were being used illegally.
Source: Original
She explained that the move seeks to accommodate a large number of county employees. The CECM also noted that all the tenants were served with eviction letters as per the law.
"They have been using the county houses illegally without paying, and that's why we have decided to move them so that even county workers can get houses,” the county executive said.
She also noted that the move was aimed at restoring good management of public resources and ensuring that county employees have access to decent housing.
Johnson Sakaja under fire over Nairobi evictions
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that a section of Nairobi residents had initiated a bid to remove Governor Johnson Sakaja from office.
Led by Boniface Munyao, the locals accused Sakaja of constitutional violations and infringement of their rights.
Munyao claimed the county was ignoring the legal protection of tenants.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Rasto Wamalwa Rasto Wamalwa is a political and current affairs journalist with over five years of experience in broadcast and print media. I have worked in various radio stations such as Bk Radio, Mitume Fm, Khendo Fm and Radio Matumaini. I also served as a news correspondent at The Kenya Times, Countysplash newspaper and Shahidi online news. I am based in Kakamega county.
