Families counting loses after Saturday evictions in Voi

These were the scenes at Msambweni Village in Voi constituency, Taita Taveta County: angry residents baying blood of local leaders who had convened an urgent meeting to seek the way forward over the demolitions and evictions that have left over 3,000 families homeless.

The meeting led by Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma, Voi MP Abdi Chome and area MCA was later called off after angry residents declined to be addressed by the politicians present.

Affected residents spent the better part of Sunday trying to salvage the remains after the demolition with others bringing down their structures and save what belongs to them depsite the inspector general of police stopping the demolition.

"Sijui nitaenda wapi sina ushagoo kwanza jana mtoto wangu alipotea hajakula kitu tunaweza ambiwa turudi pale alafu pia tuvunjiwe," Mary Mwakio, a resident of Msambweni said.

As this was going on, the owners of sparkle company limited have come out defending themselves and the government over the demolitions. they say Taita Taveta leaders are to blame.

"When we got the court order we had a meeting with the governor, he agreed to move way forward unfortunately he went silent we reminded him severally we call him he doesn’t pick our calls," Francis Mulili, the managing director of Sparkle Company Limited said.

In their defense, they claim the first court order came in February 2020 in favour of the company but residents appealed and lost again at the court of appeal in march 2023.

This led to negotiations between Taita Taveta leaders, Sparkle Company Limited, affected residents and the national government through the county commissioner's office.

According to Mulili, on 21st of December, the leaders also failed to attend a meeting on behalf of the residents at the Taita Taveta county commissioner's office.

The leaders promised resolve the matter but their efforts proved futile.

The company also claims to have a genuine title deed and have been paying land rates to the county government for the past 10 years.