Government destroys Sh500 million worth of property owned by former Bungo state governor’s family

The Bungoma County Government on Saturday, May 4, demolished a Sh500 million property owned by the family of former Bungoma Governor Wycliff Wangamati in Kandwi.

In addition to the millions in land, another construction site owned by the former governor's family has been condemned and is scheduled to be demolished.

The demolished building houses a supermarket and other facilities, and the land is being cleared for the expansion of Masinde Murillo Stadium.

The stadium is expected to have a capacity of 40,000 people, and this year's Madaraka Day celebrations are scheduled to be held on June 1st.

Speaking to reporters at the demolition site, the governor said the government had ulterior motives. He revealed that the government is accusing his father of stealing land.

“They gave us a notice all the way back in January and we went to court and got an order to stop the demolition.Recently the court granted us a six-month restraining order. But I guess the county government changed its mind last night,” he said.

He further disclosed that the case is scheduled for hearing on June 8, 2024, and accused the county government of failing to comply with the court's orders.

Wangamati said her father was an honest employee who legally acquired the land from the government on a lease in 1965.

After the demolition, young people from the surrounding area could be seen scavenging for scrap metal while police officers monitored the site.

Notably, there was an earlier attempt to demolish the building in April against a court ruling, but the former governor and traders in the area blocked truck access.

After the attempted incident, the families called on the county government to respect the court's decision, adding that it resembled a political witch hunt.

“We are not crazy people who would build a 500 million KSA building on land that does not belong to us. We are the rightful owners of this land based on a lease agreement that the state is aware of.” said the former governor's brother Michael Wangamati.