This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, six Members of Parliament from Western Kenya issued a stern warning to Deputy President William Ruto, stating that he was not welcome in the region until the Luhya community was given back their land.
Close to 1,500 families were left homeless after they were evicted from Nandi following a land dispute. The evictions, which took place on Wednesday night, also saw the demolition of houses, churches, and schools.
During a press conference on Thursday, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who led the group of MPs, told Ruto that he was not welcome in the area until the Luhya community was given back their land.
“I don't want to mince my words on this, I want to tell the Deputy President you are not welcome in our area if our people are being evicted from Nandi,” Malala said.
The other MPs who signed the statement include Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Florence Mutua (Busia woman representative), George Aladwa (Makadara), Geoffrey Osotsi (nominated), and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
Osotsi added that the community would not tolerate the inhumane manner in which the eviction had been carried out.
“We do not want to have friends only when they come to look for votes,” Osotsi said.
The leaders appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene, citing concerns that a number of students sitting for the national examination risked missing the exams.
