Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has voiced serious concern about the ongoing demolition of properties in Kisumu County, allegedly being carried out by the National Government to create space for a road expansion initiative.
Speaking in the Senate on July 10, Senator Ojienda directed urgent questions to the Roads, Transport and Housing Committee, chaired by Senator Eddy Gicheru.
He requested the committee to clarify the legal basis for the demolitions and to explain whether the operations are being executed within the boundaries of the law. Specifically, he demanded to know which government agencies or departments are involved and whether they are acting under a proper legal directive.
“The Roads Committee must clearly explain which government bodies are responsible for carrying out these demolitions and if they are doing so under a formal legal order,” Ojienda said.
The senator also raised the issue of due process, questioning whether the affected residents were issued any official notices before their homes and businesses were brought down.
He asked whether public participation was held in line with Kenya’s Constitution, which requires that citizens be consulted and informed about developments that affect their livelihoods.
He emphasized the need to know the status of the land involved — whether it was private, public, or community-owned — and urged the committee to provide answers on this critical point.
According to Senator Ojienda, the demolitions are taking place in several areas of Kisumu County, including the Korando-Tiengre region. He asked Senator Gicheru to clarify if there are any plans in place to either compensate or resettle the affected families and business owners, many of whom have been left in distress after losing their properties.
This is not the first time demolitions have disrupted the lives of Kisumu residents. In July 2020, structures at the historic Oile Market were torn down after the contractor for the Kisumu-Kisian bypass project deemed the market a hindrance to roadworks. Over 300 kiosks and business stalls were removed to make way for construction vehicles and equipment.
Similarly, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) previously demolished more than 300 roadside structures along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway, which included kiosks and small shops.
KeNHA stated that these structures were considered illegal and had encroached onto the designated road reserve. In some cases, even residential houses fell within the demolition zone.
Back in 2021, Kenya Railways also carried out large-scale demolitions in parts near Kisumu Port. More than 3,000 buildings — including homes, shops, restaurants, and hotels — were brought down on the grounds that they had been erected on land owned by the railway corporation.
Now, with fresh demolitions underway and more people being displaced, Senator Ojienda is demanding transparency and accountability. He insists that development should not come at the cost of people’s dignity and calls on the government to balance infrastructure projects with human rights and proper legal procedures.
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