Too's family gets reprieve in land tussle with squatters

Justice Ndung'u directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice immediately to give further directions.

Like in 2017, when the High Court in Eldoret declared the squatters as legitimate owners of the land, the over 1,000 squatters' celebrations have been shortlived.

Families of the squatters stormed the home of the late politician on the weekend following the judgement, which said the land was fraudulently taken after the East Africa Tanning and Extract Company (EATEC) ceased operations.

Police officers watched as the squatters stormed the land, which has been at the centre of a tussle since 2007.

Some people who bought part of the land have urged the court to explain their fate. Led by former Assistant Minister Jesse Maiz, the residents said they paid for the farms and expressed worry that they might lose their property following the decision by the Kisumu court.

The property was part of 32,000 acres of land comprising the Eldoret International Airport and Moi University, among several other public utilities. Some of the squatters moved in with their livestock, and are already subdividing the land.

Sirikwa Squatters chairman, Benjamin Rono, said they had no intention of destroying any property.