Land officials arrested over farm dispute

One of the more than 500 farmers from Ndibithi Farm in Ndabibi, Naivasha in a demonstration over 100 acres allegedly grabbed by senior Government officers. Nine officials of the farm were arrested and accused of encroaching on a private farm. [PHOTO: Antony Gitonga/standard]

Drama ensued over the weekend when Naivasha sub-county Commissioner Abraham Kemboi ordered the arrest of nine officials of the vast Ndibithi Farm.

The nine who included their chairman were locked up for hours before being released after recording a statement at Naivasha police station.

The officials of the 1,004-acre farm were arrested for allegedly encroaching on a private farm belonging to a local tycoon. Following the arrest, tension was high in Ndibithi as locals threatened to hold a demo to protest the arrest of their leaders.

Trouble started after the commissioner summoned the officials in his office for a meeting over the ownership of the farm, whose case is pending in court.

Minutes after arriving in the office, security officers moved in and whisked the officials to the nearby Naivasha police station.

Mr Kemboi accused the officials of leading their members into a private farm. “The nine have recorded statements with the police and will be arraigned in court when investigations are through,” he said.

CASE IN COURT

However, the farm chairman Samuel Ng’ang’a denied that they had invaded a private farm, noting that there was a case in court over the land in dispute.

He accused the tycoon of using the county administration to intimidate them and alleged that the land in question belonged to the farmers.

Mr Ng’ang’a said they acquired the land from a white settler after working for him before independence.

He said they bought the 2,504 acres where they settled on but 1,004 acres had been grabbed by some private developers. “We want the Government to send surveyors here to restore the original beacons so as to stop our suffering,” he said.

Francis Njogu, also arrested, said the alleged grabbers had already taken land that was earmarked for social amenities.