A number of families in Kwale County are distraught after receiving eviction notice from government asking them to pave way for the expansion of Ksh600 million fruit factory.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, March 24, the residents of Mathare in Shimba Hills, Kwale County, asked that they be compensated before surrendering the parcel to the state.
The company is set to expand after the first phase is completed.
The residents, most of them elderly, claimed that they had lived on the parcel for more than 40 years.
"They have began constructing phase one, there is still phase two, but phase three will lead to the eviction of residents," decried a resident.
"We got a letter of allotment, but we have lived here for long, and some have even grown old here. There are 15 families that are the most affected," added another resident.
One of the residents accused Kwale County Government of being secretive with information in the implementation of the project.
"I have lived here all these years. My request is that if the government is interested in snapping up this property, They should pay us before evictions," stated Charles Makau.
The factory intends to occupy 25 acres of land on which the factory will sit, as well as housing facilities for its workers.
"The Governor should come and carry out a survey to ascertain the number of residents instead of issuing us with eviction threats," added another.
Kwale County Government has, however, distanced itself from claims that it intends to grab private property owned by locals.
"We came to bring a solution to the problems of the people of Kwale. The land belongs to the government but we will only take 7 acres. We shall leave 18 acres for the residents.
"The land we have left them is more than they will ever use," explained a representative from the county.
The construction of the fruit processing factory was launched in 2019.
