Hundreds stare at eviction after influential officials invade land

Hundreds of families living on the border of Nakuru and Narok counties are staring at evictions in an exercise whose legitimacy is in question.

They say since Saturday, people claiming to have been sent by senior government officials invaded their farms in Narok North and Gilgil constituencies, putting up new beacons.

“They claimed to be surveyors and were escorted by a heavy contingent of police officers and non-local youth,” said Sammy ole Kiminta, area community policing chairperson.

He claimed that the local administration has turned a blind eye despite their complaints.

“We are not getting any answers from government officers. The surveyors only told us to get ready to move out if our land falls within the area they have demarcated,” he said.

The legitimacy of the exercise has been put into question as the hooded police officers are not from the area and are using unmarked vehicles.

“The police vehicles have not been branded and don’t have registration plates. One that had, they had inverted and smeared it with mud. They claimed that their orders are from Nairobi,” said Kiminta.

The surveyors claim the land is part of an extension of the controversial ADC Ndabibi Farm, which falls on the Nakuru side of the border.

Recently, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara publicly declared that the farm had been leased to a company associated with President William Ruto.

Several politicians in the Ruto administration have also acquired parcels of land within the area and one is already constructing a multimillion-shilling residence while another is putting up a hotel.

President’s aide

“Their team leader is a well known aide to the President. When he came with the surveyors, we questioned him as elders. He dismissed elders saying that we should direct our questions to the President himself,” said Kiminta.

Maize crop on the path where the fences are being erected has been cleared, with residents being threatened.

“I found them in the middle of my farm and tried to stop them. The police officers them warned me with a disappearance that would never be resolved,” said Joseph Naimado.

Naimado said he has been forced to seek alternative shelter for his family and livestock as his perimeter fence has been brought down.

“They are currently erecting a fence across my compound and have warned me against setting foot there. I am helplessly watching them from a distance,” he said.

Susan Kararu said they would not move out, describing it as their ancestral home. “I am 50 years old and was born here. My father and my grandparents were buried here. Where else do those interested in my small parcel want my children and I to relocate to?” she said.

Peter Naimodu said they were shocked to see people claiming the land they have known as their home for decades.

“We are disturbed that the current administration has just realised our land, which has never been ADC’s, is now theirs. We are not moving out.”

Susan Osono regretted that the new fence has cut them off key amenities. “They have fenced off our only watering point. The fence has closed roads leading to a school and a  dispensary. How is this happening under the government’s watch?”