Thika residents have issued complains to the government over seizing of their community land for construction of the affordable housing without consulting the area residents.
Residents from starehe, ziwani, TUDC and UTI estates are the areas to be affected, residents worried that the construction will lead to the demolishing of their homes to pave way for the government project.
“Some estates have been demolished and theirs ground has been fenced. This events have come as a shock to us,” A resident commented.
The residents went ahead and offered an ultimatum to the government asking for compensation for persons who will lose their land. They have asked the government to engage them in the necessary talks on the way forward as some claim their lands to be ancestral, of which they don't intend to let go.
If their demands are not met. The residents have threatened to demonstrate to protest against the construction of the houses in that area.
“Let us encourage dialogue and conversation. If it gets to a point where we do not get an answer then we will go to court and hold demonstrations.” The residents said
The affordable housing construction was established by President William Ruto with the aim of creating jobs and cheap houses for Kenyans.
Thika residents worried over losing land amid affordable housing construction project