Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in a conversation with one of the hundreds of residents evicted from Jipe/Mwakoshemi Village in Taita Taveta County. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has launched a blistering attack on President William Ruto’s administration over the alleged illegal eviction of hundreds of residents from Jipe/Mwakoshemi Village in Taita Taveta County, vowing to pursue legal and parliamentary action against those behind the disputed land takeover.
Kalonzo, who visited the village on Friday, August 28, accused the government of presiding over what he termed a “naked abuse of state power,” claiming that residents had been forcefully evicted from land they lawfully own.
According to the Wiper leader, police officers allegedly carried out the evictions in the dead of night, leaving hundreds of residents, including women, children and persons with disabilities, stranded and sleeping in makeshift shelters without food or water.
He further claimed that land hosting schools had also been affected, locking out children from accessing education.
“What I witnessed is a naked abuse of state power. Private land belonging to the people of Jipe/Mwakoshemi has been forcefully grabbed, and the rightful occupants evicted from their homes in the dead of night by police officers who should be protecting them, not terrorising them,” Kalonzo said.
The former Vice President termed the alleged evictions a violation of constitutional rights and vowed that those responsible would be held accountable.
Kalonzo announced that he had instructed the National Assembly Minority Leader, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, to urgently raise the matter in Parliament.
He also said his legal team, led by Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru, had been directed to move to court and pursue contempt proceedings against the Registrar of Lands over allegations that fraudulently acquired land titles had not been cancelled despite existing court orders.
“No official of this regime is above the law. Those who signed, stamped and enforced this land grab will be named and they will answer for it,” Kalonzo said.
He assured the affected families that they would not be abandoned, pledging to continue pushing for justice until they are resettled on land he said rightfully belongs to them.
“To the families of Jipe/Mwakoshemi, you are not alone and you will not be forgotten. I will not rest until justice is served and every family is resettled on what rightfully belongs to them,” he said.
Kalonzo was accompanied during the visit by leaders allied to the United Alternative Government-in-Waiting, including Justin Muturi, Eugene Wamalwa, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, Voi MP Ali Chombe, Wiper Patriotic Front chairman Jamleck Kamau and Aisha Jumwa.
The allegations and legal claims were made in Kalonzo’s statement following his visit to Jipe/Mwakoshemi Village on August 28.
