William Ruto Fiercely Warns Land Grabbers Around New Bungoma Stadium: "Hatutaki Vita"

• Supposed grabbers of the tracts outside the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma county, have been ordered to give up their properties
• President William Ruto said the facility ought to be expanded and fully developed, thus the need to reclaim the public land taken by unnamed individuals
• The construction of the 40,000-seater stadium in Kanduyi started earlier this year in readiness to host the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations and other subsequent events

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Bungoma: President William Ruto has put on notice grabbers of land adjoining the Masinde Muliro Stadium, giving them a few days to vacate.

Speaking during the 61st Madaraka Day fete held at the half-built facility on Saturday, June 1, the president noted that the expansion of the stadium would be hampered by the grabbers, whom he did not mention.

What did Ruto say to Kanduyi land grabbers?

He counselled them to leave of their own volition, failure to which the national government would undertake forcible evictions.

"Let me ask the people around this stadium, especially those who have decided to acquire some of the public lands, please, let us respect each other; everyone having land around here knowing it is government property, please pack your things and leave. Wen will develop the whole of this area. We don't want fights with people. Government property belongs to all citizens," said the president.

The president underscored the government's commitment to fully develop the stadium to befit the status of an ultra-modern sporting facility.

Masinde Muliro Stadium, named after Western Kenya's political icon, Elijah Masinde Muliro, is the second over-par stadium in the larger western region after Kakamega's Bukhungu Stadium, a 30,000-seater stadium that is also undergoing construction.

Demolitions in Kanduyi

Ruto's pronouncement came weeks after a mall outside the facility was demolished by the state.

The business centre housing a Khetias Supermarket branch was demolished to make way for the stadium's expansion.

It was owned by the family of former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati, who faulted the current account administration for a supposed witchhunt.

Reacting to the demolition, Wangamati took issue with the authorities for flouting a court order that had stopped the flattening of the multi-million shilling structure.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.