More than 600 families allocated 419 acres of land in Kamiti Forest, Kiambu County, 32 years ago are once again looking to the courts and the government to end their decades-long wait for settlement.
The former Kamiti Forest workers say they have been unable to take possession of the land since 1994, when former President Daniel Moi directed that part of the forest be hived off for their settlement.
The families, drawn from areas bordering Ruiru, Githunguri, and Kiambu constituencies, say their hopes have been frustrated by successive court battles and alleged interference by individuals seeking to take control of the land.
Their latest hope rests on a case before the Thika Environment and Land Court, which was postponed for the fourth time this year. The matter was adjourned to October 8 after the magistrate was reportedly away from duty.
Kamiti Forest Squatters Association Chairman Philip Kitavi said the prolonged legal battles had left hundreds of families in limbo, with some beneficiaries dying before seeing the settlement plan implemented.
“There are people purporting to be squatters’ leaders who have been filing cases to frustrate the settlement process and deny us our rights. We plead with the court to ensure justice is served,” Kitavi said.
He alleged that cartels had interfered with the settlement process and called on President William Ruto and Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to intervene and help resolve the dispute.
Kitavi said the beneficiaries were casual workers in Kamiti Forest and neighbouring coffee farms when the land was allocated to them.
“The people now claiming the land were nowhere when the late President Moi directed that part of the forest be hived off and allocated to us,” he said.
Other beneficiaries, including Fatuma Boru, Eliud Kimani, and Joseph Wanyoike, said their families had remained landless despite spending decades waiting for settlement.
They said some of their parents had been buried on the disputed land, which they alleged had since been occupied or taken over by wealthy individuals.
Wanyoike, who said he has lived in the area for more than 40 years, accused wealthy individuals of frustrating efforts to secure the land.
Boru said she was a young girl when the allocation was made and has since become a grandmother, yet the promise of settlement remains unfulfilled.
Most of the families currently live in temporary and overcrowded structures in Ruturu, with the beneficiaries saying they have no alternative land to call home.
Despite the delays, the squatters said they would continue pursuing the matter through the courts and government channels until the land was secured for the intended beneficiaries.
By Muoki Charles
