Govt Official's House Demolished over Ksh5.4 Million Rent Arrears

Demolition in Kisumu County in November 2020.
Demolition in Kisumu County in November 2020.
YouTube

A senior government official in Kisumu County had his house demolished in an exercise by the county government over rent arrears amounting to Ksh5.4 Million.

Eric Okeyo, who is the chairperson of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, faced the forceful eviction from the county property after a notice for payment lapsed.

The bulldozer descended on the property bringing down structures around the house including the fence before moving onto the main building.

Watch the video of the demolition below:

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More than 30 county enforcement officers were deployed at the premises as the demolition went on.

The machine brought down a section of the roof before taking down walls and eventually full sections of the house. 

Some of the items that were in the house were cleared out before the demolition began.

The workers in the homestead watched in dismay as the bulldozer brought down the house.

The Kisumu County Government had in October, issued a notice to all rent defaulters to settle their accounts or be forcefully evicted.

Among the leaders put on notice were former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Kisumu Senator Fred Outa among other politicians.

Midiwo was alleged to owe the county Ksh 876,000 in a notice signed by City Manager Abala Wanga.

"Our records indicate that you have not been making payments regularly since you occupy the above promise and have accrued arrears of Ksh 876,000," the notice read in part.

On his part, Senator Outa was also given an eviction order over Ksh1.7 million rent arrears.

Jakoyo Midiwo
The late Jakoyo Midiwo at a press conference in June 9, 2019
The Standard

Some individual tenants are said to owe the county as much as Ksh 6 million in unpaid rent.

"Some of them have not paid their rent arrears and have debts of up to six million and have ignored these notices.

"Others have court orders directing them to leave if they can't pay," stated the City Manager.