Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has donated Ksh500,000 to victims of the Msambweni demolitions.
Speaking when he visited the victims, Raila told off the government over the demolitions terming it inhumane.
The opposition chief additionally called out President William Ruto over the decision which he says is inappropriate as the law dictates that every citizen has a right to own land.
While faulting the Kenya Kwanza regime over the devastating state of the area residents, Raila asked the president to halt the evictions adding that the government should move with haste and assist the victims.
"Mambo ya shamba ilikua ni swala nyeti wakati tukiongelea mambo ya katiba, tulisema kwamba shamba ya serikali ni ya wakenya na mwananchi ana haki ya kumiliki ardhi…hakuna mtu ambaye ako na haki ya kuenda mahali watu wanaishi na kuanza kubomoa. Serikali iko na jukumu ya kulinda na kutetea haki ya wananchi, huezi toa binadamu pahali anakaa, sasa anaenda wapi? Hii kitendo imefanyika hapa ni kitendo cha kinyama, inafaa ilaaniwe kabisa.
"Hii inafanyika na serikali ambayo inajiita ya utu, binadamau ni bindamau na kama kuna sheria, sheria iko pale ya kulinda wanadamu. Isimamishwe watu warudi kwao na serikali itoe pesa kusaidia watu hapa kujenga manyumba mapya," Raila said.
The evictions which began early this year have left over 3,000 families homeless.
Earlier, Raila stated that the victims had pleaded with the government to compensate them for the land acquired by the State for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to enable them to settle elsewhere, however, the government ignored their pleas.
“As the community prepared to meet this afternoon, demolition started early in the morning. The entire leadership of the National Government Administration Officers in the county has refused to respond to distress calls of residents and instead gone into hiding," Raila said in a statement on January 7, 2024.
"We remind Mr. William Ruto that during the campaigns, he promised that forceful evictions and demolition of dwellings would be a thing of the past. Ruto promised that where necessary, affected people would be provided with enough notice and compensation promptly paid."
