Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa strongly demands an immediate halt to the ongoing illegal demolitions of houses in the Milimani area, Mahiakalo Ward, Lurambi Sub-county by the National Government.
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00:00 We are very disappointed with what is going on around here, Milimani.
00:07 This is demolitions which are being done by the national government,
00:14 at the behest of the regional commissioner.
00:17 And the most surprising issue is that as the Kauti government of Takamega,
00:24 we were not involved at all.
00:27 We didn't authorize these demolitions,
00:31 because we believe if there is any activity that is supposed to be happening
00:37 within our jurisdiction, as a county we are supposed to be consulted.
00:42 I've just come here, I've been in communication with the families that have been affected,
00:49 and the best that we can do, which we have done,
00:54 is to seek the national government to stop the ongoing demolition of these properties.
01:04 And the most annoying thing is they are only targeting properties which are owned by the Kauti government.
01:13 Properties which are owned by national government officials are not being demolished.
01:19 So what is coming out clearly is that we have an ill motive of these demolitions,
01:25 which we want to condemn in the strongest terms possible.
01:29 We have families here, like the family of the former mayor, Iko Hapa,
01:34 who have been living here for the last 40 years plus.
01:40 We don't understand why the national government can just wake up one morning,
01:44 and do these demolitions at night, without regard to court orders which are already in place.
01:54 I think this is impunity of the highest order.
01:58 So what we are saying as the Kauti government is that we want the fellows who have authorized demolitions
02:07 being undertaken by the regional commissioner to stop and obey court orders.
02:14 There is no way you can just move in to this place at night without notice.
02:22 The most interesting thing here, and annoying thing,
02:26 is that demolitions in Afanya, without even having given people notice.
02:31 I think there is a lot that needs to be told by the national government,
02:36 and that is why as the leaders of Kakamela County, we are here to condemn what is going on,
02:43 and ask the demolitions to stop and obey the court orders, so that we can have further consultation.
02:50 I think the affected families were Kauti, and maybe it is just good for you to hear from them,
02:57 what they are going through. We are standing with them, and it is not right.
03:02 It is quite inhuman, it is frustrating, and that is why for us as the Kauti government,
03:10 we are not very happy with what is going on here.
03:13 We are disappointed, and we want the national government to respect court orders,
03:19 to respect leases which are in existence, and these properties belong to the defunct municipal council.
03:28 All properties that were belonging to the defunct local authorities automatically become Kauti properties.
03:39 So we don't see how the national government can use veto powers.
03:43 They must respect that you also have a Kauti government here of Kakamela,
03:48 that owns the land that belonged to the defunct local authorities.
03:53 So there is a lot that is happening here, which is against the constitution.
03:59 They must respect that the constitution provides for interdependence and distinction.
04:05 We are distinct. We don't belong to the national government as far as Kakamela is concerned.
04:10 I think for us here, we just want to condemn this.
04:15 It is clear that the national government is determined to frustrate devolution.
04:23 That is the whole thing here.
04:25 And that is why as leaders, we have come here to condemn this
04:29 and seek for immediate stoppage of this ongoing devolution.
04:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]