Twist as Portland Cement puts part of its land up for sale amid demolitions

Demolitions on the controversial land belonging to the East African Portland Cement Company in Athi River. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

The East African Portland Cement has notified the public that it has put part of its land in Athi River, Machakos County up for sale, amid ongoing demolitions.

In a notice published in a local daily, EAPC noted that priority will be given to those who are currently occupying the said piece of land.

"East African Portland Cement (EAPC PLC) wishes to notify members of the public of its offer to sell the above-referenced parcels of land via a regularisation model," the notice read in part.

At the same time, the cement company has urged the present occupants of the land to state their claim within the next two weeks, starting today, Tuesday, October 17.

"At the expiry of this notice, all unclaimed portions shall be competitively offered to the general public on a willing buyer-willing seller basis. We have also set up an office on the land for sale and facilitate transactions," said EAPC.

There has been a public outcry over the ongoing demolitions after a Machakos High Court declared the Portland Cement Company the legitimate owner of the 4,298 acres of land.

Bulldozers descended on houses in Athi River since Friday last week, forcing families to spend nights in the cold.

The demolitions on the more than 4000 acres of land, LR N0. 10424, began after Lady Justice Nyukuri, sitting at Machakos Environment and Land Court declared East African Portland Cement PLC the legitimate owner of the disputed land.

Attempts by local leaders to offer humanitarian aid to the affected families were thwarted by the police.