The Kenyan government, through the Privatisation Commission, has denied rumors that it intends to sell East Africa Portland Cement to private investors while demolishing squatters’ homes.
This came after a social media post went viral stating that the corporation, Kenya Pipeline, and other significant parastatals were for sale.
The announcement comes just two months after the Trade Ministry announced that it had identified a buyer for the state’s Ksh15 billion stake in Portland Cement.
Industry Principal Secretary (PS) Juma Mukhwana informed Parliament that the Ministry had authorized a plan that would allow the strategic investor to purchase a 30% stake in the company.
The popular tweet coincided with the demolition of structures on the Portland Cement land, which has cost Kenyans billions of dollars.
“Please be advised that the program in circulation on social media is a forgery,” the Commission added.
The Portland Cement plant in Athi River has been the source of contention, with the government claiming that the residents obtained the land unlawfully.
The process of evicting residents from the vast property began in November 2022, when Moses Kuria, the former Trade Cabinet Secretary, disclosed that the government intended to use the facility for cargo storage.
The demolitions began in earnest on Saturday, a day after Ruto directed the Ministry of Lands to revoke the titles of parcels of land in Athi River that had not been developed for more than ten years.
