Portland Cement offers to sell part of its land in Mavoko amid demolitions
East African Portland Cement (EAPC) PLC has announced plans to sell a section of its land in Mavoko, Machakos County, amid protests over ongoing demolitions.
In a public notice published in the local dailies on Tuesday, October 17, the construction company that has been embroiled in a protracted land dispute with local investors in recent years, said it had resolved to sell plot numbers 8784/144, 145 & 653 through a "regularisation model".
The company further announced that persons occupying the land would be given priority.
"East African Portland Cement (EAPC) PLC wishes to notify members of the public of its offer to sell the above-referenced parcels of land via a regularization model.
"First and preferential priority shall be offered to the parties currently occupying sections of the said parcels," the company stated.
Interested parties have 14 days to claim the offer.
"At the expiry of this notice, all unclaimed portions shall be competitively offered to the general public on a willing buyer willing seller basis," the company added.
Portland Cement further said a site office had been set up within EAPC PLC premises along Namanga Road to facilitate the transfer of the property.
Victims protest against demolitions
The notice comes amid protests from members of the public and victims over the ongoing demolition of homes at the Portland Cement land in Athi River.
The demolitions entered day four yesterday amid agony, pain, anguish and loss of property worth millions.
Homeowners narrated painful tales of how they acquired the disputed land which the court last week ruled belongs to Portland Cement.
Some of the victims, who are now demanding compensation, were duped by land-selling companies and possess title deeds they believe are genuine. Some hold shared certificates.
Reports indicate that some of the buyers who fell prey to the well-orchestrated land fraud paid relatively lower prices for the land compared to the current market price for the prime piece of land situated on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
The demolitions are expected to enter the fifth day today even as Ukambani leaders led by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti over the weekend pleaded with the government to halt what they termed as an inhumane exercise.
