Squatters to lose Portland land over non-payment
Over 2000 squatters residing at a piece of land belonging to East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC ) in Athi-River, Mavoko Sub-County, Machakos County will be evicted by the land owner for breach of land payment agreement.
The cement maker has already advertised at least 2,872plots measuring 50 by 100 and 40 by 100 to willing buyers after its occupants failed to raise the money required during the grace period given.
Occupants of the plots which are part of the 1,362 acres of land were allowed to pay Sh700,000 per plot through a regularisation process.
The process was initiated by the company in August 2022 after lengthy negotiations with squatters who have been residing in the land.
Occupants of the land were required to register, proof ownership through the three registered umbrella groups, pay Sh100,000 registration fee and settle the balance in instalments within three years.
Title deeds
Upon completion of payment, the occupants would be issued with a title deed.
In the notice dated April 20, 2014, interested land buyers have been offered free daily site viewing of the plots. “Members of the public are invited to apply for plots in the referenced parcels that were unclaimed in the regularisation process. The land is being sold on as it is basis,’’ reads part of the notice.
Raw materials
Squatters settled on the piece of land in 2010 after the cement maker completed mining of cement raw material before advertising interest to sell the piece of land to natives, a move they later revoked.
The squatters remained on the land despite frequent forceful evictions, repeatedly calling on the government to legally settle them.
Leaders from the Kamba community on the other hand maintained that the land should be reverted to the local community and even initiated negotiations with Portland which led to mutual agreement that settlers pay for the land at an affordable price and flexible mode instead of being evicted.
Portland management announced that the money raised from the land sale would be pumped in upgrading its Athi-river plant factory and settling creditors debts amounting to billions of shillings.
