Former CS Amina Mohamed's Kakamega home demolished

The residence of former Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed is among numerous structures demolished by the State to make room for affordable housing projects in Kakamega County's Milimani area.

Despite a court issuing orders halting the demolitions and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in Kakamega criticizing the government's decision to bring down the homes, the levelling of the structures continued on Wednesday.

A section of area residents however joined in on the demolitions, telling Citizen Digital that the exercise benefits youth in the region by providing job opportunities and that the affordable housing projects will address the region's housing deficit.

"I'd like to thank the government for the job it is doing. Were it not for the demos, we wouldn't have gotten something to eat today. Youth are financially benefiting by participating in the demolitions," an area resident said.

In November 2023, Kakamega Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia defended the demolitions noting that the move is part of the government's commitment to restoring public land to its rightful purpose, paving the way for essential development projects.

The process of land recovery commenced on September 1, with the issuance of a vacate notice to occupants, urging them to relocate by November 23, when the demolition process officially began.

Macharia similarly quelled rumours alleging that some residents Milimani residents were being spared from the demolitions.

"There's no sacred cow in this operation. Everyone who is there will face the demolitions. It doesn't matter who you are, as long as you are on public land,” he explained.