Residents of Athi River in Machakos County can finally feel a sense of relief as Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has begun a formal process to regularize land previously owned by the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC). In a consultative meeting held in Mavoko on Wednesday, KCB announced its plan to sell the land to local residents, pledging not to evict any current occupants.

The initiative, led by KCB’s Group Head of Credit Support, Oscar Obuna, aims to guide local squatters through a registration and document validation process before the land’s valuation and subsequent sale. “Today was the first step in the journey of allowing locals to own this land,” said Obuna, adding that registration would take about three weeks, though pricing details are yet to be finalized.


KCB, now the land's owner due to a loan default by EAPCC, has offered to provide financing options for residents who may face difficulty meeting payment requirements, using the titles as collateral.

Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko encouraged squatters to register formally to secure their rights and avoid eviction, emphasizing, “This is a God-given chance; take advantage and register yourself to show your commitment to ownership.”

Community leaders and residents praised KCB’s approach and requested that prices for parcels be affordable, along with flexible payment timelines. Syokimau Community Association Chairman Francisco Ngei Mutua urged residents to cooperate with KCB’s terms to secure their title deeds.


Mavoko MP Patrick Makau also commended KCB’s transparency in engaging with residents. He called on the bank to lower the registration fee from Ksh.200,000 to Ksh.100,000, citing economic difficulties for locals, many of whom are retirees or unemployed.

Makau also addressed tensions with Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, accusing her of political antagonism over his interest in the 2027 governorship. He urged for unity in helping residents, saying, “Let’s not be divided over political intentions. For now, we respect the governor.”

This statement follows a viral video of Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi accusing Makau of hiring bloggers to insult Governor Ndeti and spreading rumors about her.