The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has issued an official notice to residents in Komarock, Nairobi County, to vacate KPLC land they are occupying unlawfully.
In the official notice, KPLC directed the residents to immediately cease any further activities on the land and remove any buildings or other structures that may have been erected there.
"To the general public and all unlawful occupiers of Komarock, take notice that you are in unlawful occupation of KPLC land LR NO.113044/R Nairobi, situated in Komarok, Nairobi City County, without express or lawful authority, or without any right or licence under the law, and in violation of the decree issued by the court in Milimani Environment and Land Court Case number 1453 of 2007 on August 26, 2024," the notice read in part.
KPLC has further directed the residents to remove any crops they may have planted and any livestock kept on the land, and to vacate the premises within three months from March 13, 2025.
The lighting company warned the residents that if they failed to vacate the land within three months, they would be forcefully evicted.
"Take notice that at the expiry of the three months, you will be evicted without any further reference to you, at your cost and peril," the notice continued.
Copied in the notice by KPLC were the Deputy County Commissioner, Embakasi Sub-County, and the Officer Commanding Police Division, Embakasi Division.
The notice comes barely three months after a section of Nairobi residents in Nyama Villa Estate in Kayole were evicted. Bulldozers demolished homes early in the morning, leaving dozens of families homeless.
The demolitions stemmed from a long-standing land dispute between Muthithi Investments and individuals allegedly occupying the land illegally.
The Land Act defines unlawful occupation as occupying, erecting buildings, cultivating, grazing, or extracting resources on public land without lawful authority. Under this Act, it is an offence for Kenyans to illegally occupy public land.
Individuals found guilty of this offence may face a fine of up to Ksh500,000. Additionally, if the offence continues, the fine can increase by Ksh10,000 for each day of continued occupation.
The National Land Commission (NLC) is responsible for serving notices to such individuals, directing them to vacate the land within a specified period. If the affected individuals fail to comply with the notices, legal action and penalties can apply.
