Thousands of residents in Uasin Gishu County are set to be evicted from a 606-acre piece of land.
This follows the expiry of a 14-day notice issued by the Eldoret High Court that ruled that the 5,000 people have been occupying the land illegally.
Among the families to be affected by the eviction is the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker David Kiplagat.
The notice baffled the residents who argued that they possessed title deeds and therefore had a right to stay in the land.
"The land we live in was already subdivided and genuine title deeds have been issued to around 250 families," Kiplagat noted.
Initially, the residents took to the streets to protest the demarcation of the land by surveyors on Monday, November 30.
Armed with placards, they barricaded the Eldoret-Kitale road for hours urging the court to hear their plea. They argued that they had lived in the land for decades.
The surveyors had been accompanied by police officers from Moi's Bridge Police Station who thwarted the resistance from the residents.
The land dispute, which initially involved 909 acres, ensued from two locals who sought to claim possession of the land.
Kachero Ole Makala had sought to claim that the land rightfully belonged to him as he argued that George Kipteng had invaded the land.
After years in court, the land tussle between the two saw the case moved to Uasin Gishu Land Dispute Tribunal, Kapasaret Division.
The Tribunal reached a verdict and argued that Makala was to get the lion's share of the land with 606 acres while Kipteng would receive 303 acres.
This decision was backed up by the Eldoret High Court who issued an eviction order.
