A battle over ownership of a huge chunk of land estimated to be more than 23,000 acres in Thome location of Rumuruti division in Laikipia county is brewing between two groups.
On one hand, the land was acquired by over 5,000 members of the Mathira-Kihundui-Kahonoki Gitaaraga farmers’ association way back in 1974.
However, according to their chairman Dominic Munyiri, even after subdivision, members never settled on the farm located at Mathira village in Rumuruti division, and this paved way for invasion by squatters from the pastoralist communities living in the area and ‘making it their own’.
The squatters claim that they have lived on the farm for 38 years and are now surprised that they were being subjected to eviction after the initial landowners sold off part of the land.
The chairman has indicated that the management committee has already sold off 2,000 acres to an investor intending to invest in agricultural produce and the remaining piece was up for sale for anyone willing to purchase.
Speaking during a tense meeting held at the land, the squatters, led by Kadili Kaishu and John Lekurtutu claimed that they have lived in the land for decades without anyone raising alarm.
However, Laikipia West Deputy County Commissioner David Boen, who chaired the meeting noted that members of Mathira-Kihundui-Kahonoki-Gitaaraga Farmers’ Association were the rightful landowners and have all the rights to dispose of it off at will since they have legal and requisite ownership documents.
He added that anyone among the squatters willing to acquire the land was free to show interest and negotiate with the management committee and follow the due process.
The squatters have vowed not to vacate the land claiming ownership of part of the land where they have settled for over three decades.
By Antony Mwangi
