Tension is high in Kibiko, Kajiado County, after two rival factions clashed on Wednesday night over the disputed 2,600-acre Keekonyokie community land.
The confrontation left one vehicle burnt to ashes and one person nursing injuries, forcing residents to flee in fear of retaliation. Police were deployed that night to restore calm, though locals say tension remains palpable.
Those caught in the violence said they are now living in fear. Leah Karu, one of the residents, recounted how a group of about 30 youths invaded their homes at night and torched a vehicle.
“They came in a large group, attacked our homestead, and set our vehicle on fire. We are now living in fear of more attacks,” Ms Karu said.
The land, part of the Keekonyokie Community Trust in Ngong’s Kibiko area, has been at the centre of a bitter dispute for more than a decade, with rival groups laying claim to ownership.
Court records show the row began in 2014, spawning multiple suits, interim orders, and allegations of fraudulent subdivisions.
Speaking on Thursday at the contested land, Thomas Mbugua, a lawyer representing one faction, accused unscrupulous individuals of illegally issuing title deeds to a section of residents, effectively locking out the original landowners.
Mbugua said the High Court had already issued orders stopping any subdivision or transfer of the land until the case is determined.
“The court was clear that no subdivision or allocation should take place, yet we are seeing titles being issued in defiance of that order. This is contempt of court and a grave injustice to the community,” Mr Mbugua said.
John ole Musei, a resident of Kibiko, claimed that many of the titles were allocated to outsiders while genuine locals were left out.
“The titles were given to non-residents of Kibiko. In some cases, an acre of land was issued to up to ten different people, creating multiple ownership claims. The rightful owners, those born and raised here, have been sidelined,” he claimed.
Kajiado West Deputy County Commissioner Lydia Munyi urged residents to maintain peace and allow the legal process to resolve the matter
“The government will not tolerate destruction of property or bloodshed over land disputes. We call on all parties to exercise restraint,” she said.
Last week, hundreds of Keekonyokie community members staged demonstrations accusing influential persons of grabbing the land through irregular allocations.
The Ministry of Lands has however dismissed claims of illegal dealings, insisting its officers acted in line with existing court directions.
County authorities have separately raised alarm over what they describe as a Sh100 billion land fraud scheme tied to the Kibiko parcel, and called for a full audit of records.
by Rop Janet
