Residents of Ndabibi in Naivasha, Nakuru County alleged a plan by a section of the youth to invade a huge tract of land owned by President William Ruto in the area.
The locals, who took to the streets on Tuesday stated that they were organising a peaceful counter-protest against the group planning to invade Ruto's expansive farm.
Speaking to journalists, the residents claiming to be protecting Ruto's property warned against such a move stating it would affect their businesses and livelihoods and culminate in losses.
The residents further stated that they were blocking the planned protests to stop the possibility of physical altercations occurring.
According to the residents, previous attempts to trespass and access the land affected their livelihoods in a negative way and caused losses amounting to millions.
“There is a group of people that wants to come and stage protests here in Ndabibi, and the last time they did that we lost a lot of money. As a business person, I could not report to work on that day,” one of the residents lamented.
The residents further stated that any person who wanted to stage the protests could do so in their areas of residence and not in Ndabibi.
Instructively, the parcel of land in question has been at the centre of controversy over ownership rows.
Several farmers' groups and private developers have over the years been embroiled in a row with the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) over ownership of the land which they claim to have acquired from the government agency.
In an interesting twist however, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara on March 11 revealed that the land is owned by President William Ruto who purchased it from Benjamin Kipkulei, a former Permanent Secretary in the Moi administration.
According to Kihara, the former PS purchased the land from the ADC and later sold it to President Ruto.
The MP further warned against those spreading lies and inciting residents to demonstrate and instead directed disgruntled parties with evidence to submit it to relevant authorities.
