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Raila Blocked from Entering Demolition Site in Mavoko
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga was Tuesday denied access to the East African Portland Cement (EAPC) site in Mavoko, where a highly contested demolition of homes and property has hit the fourth day.
Odinga, who was accompanied by other opposition-allied leaders, was met by unrelenting police officers who said they were carrying out an order and would not allow the leaders to address the public from the site.
The officer in charge told Odinga and his entourage to find another venue for their meeting and return in a week’s time. He said that the demolition exercise was underway and that their presence would be an interruption.
Odinga condemned the demolitions, terming them as “a human tragedy” and a “gross violation of human rights.” He urged President William Ruto to intervene and help the affected residents.
Residents of Mavoko who have been affected by the demolitions have appealed to President Ruto for assistance. They are urging him to intervene and shield them from the distressing situation that has left them homeless, with others seeking compensation for their losses.
The demolitions, which began on Friday, have displaced thousands of people. Churches, mosques, and schools have also been demolished.
The residents claim that they have been living on the land for more than a decade and that they were not given adequate notice before the demolitions began.
The demolitions have elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans. Some have supported the government’s move to reclaim the land, while others have condemned it as inhumane.
National Dialogue Committee Added 30 Days
The National Assembly has granted the National Dialogue Committee an additional 30 days to complete its report on electoral justice and the fidelity to political parties. The motion was passed unanimously on Tuesday afternoon, following a request from the committee’s chair, Kimani Ichung’wah.
Ichung’wah, who is also the National Assembly Majority Leader, said that the committee needs more time to finalize its report on five thematic issues, including the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, the entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund, the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and the embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Other issues being considered by the committee include the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 presidential election results, and the restructuring and reconstitution of the IEBC.
The committee’s mandate has now been extended to November 26, 2023.
In their remarks, both Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi commended the committee for its work so far, noting that it has given Kenyans a platform to express themselves on issues that are important to them.
Wandayi said that the committee’s work is a sign of hope for Kenya’s democracy, and that Kenyans should be confident that their voices are being heard.
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