More than 400 families at Athinai village in Rongai have been rendered homeless this Christmas after their houses were demolished following an eviction order by a Nakuru court.
The residents were woken up at 4am by the roar of five bulldozers and a battery of police officers who had been deployed to ensure the court order was enforced. One resident, said he was preparing to leave for work when the lights suddenly went off in the entire village.
The residents said they had not been alerted about the demolitions. It was only after they scampered out of their houses that the security team and the auctioneer contracted to conduct the eviction informed them that they were about to lose their houses.
The families have been working in Majani Mingi, Athinai and Lomolo sisal estates all owned by a Harris Horn, a Greek national who set up the over 3,500 acre plantation in the 1960s.
Initially, Mr Horn had put up nearly 100 houses for farm workers. But as the workers’ families grew, some constructed additional houses on the farm.
This prompted the farm owner to move to court seeking an eviction order for the additional houses. The court granted the orders on October 16 this year, and the eviction squad moved in yesterday.
The residents pleaded in vain with the police and the auctioneer to give them more time. Some attempted to resist but were overpowered as the bulldozers started flattening the houses.
Affected families said vital documents such school and birth certificates, as well as marriage certificates, were lost during the demolitions.
The auctioneer confirmed that the villagers had not been served with an eviction notice, but argued that they were aware of the ongoing court proceedings and the ruling.
[Article source: The Standard, by Kennedy Gachuhi]
