Residents from Gikumari Ruiru constituency Kiambu County on Wednesday took to the streets to protest against an alleged land-grabbing case.
The agitated residents accused a well-connected individual of colluding with the local leaders to steal their land. One of the residents complained that she had completed paying for a parcel of land only to lose it to unknown individuals.
"I have refused to move from this land. I have already paid, and the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) is saying this land belongs to a 95-year-old."
"We want to see the so-called owner," one of the residents stated.
In the mid-morning protest, the residents were seen chasing away construction trucks that were developing the road before lighting tyres.
Additionally, some of the residents broke into songs and chants in solidarity against the contractor, 'Ruto must go, Gachagua must go, haki yetu (our right), shamba yetu (our land).
In December the residents suspected a possible eviction from the approximately 2,300 acres piece of land. The residents were alarmed after contractors appeared in the area to re-survey the area and open the roads.
They argued that they had occupied the land for decades and suspected that the government was acquiring it for the implementation of the housing project.
Earlier, the DCC, Margaret Mbugua, revealed that the land belonged to the government contrary to the resident's title deeds. She also argued that the documentation the residents had was different from those at Ardhi House.
However, Wambugu contradicted herself asked about the looming eviction and acknowledged that there were double allocations that were being sorted by the ministry.
She added that the government was interested in revamping the roads, which were in a poor state, rather than seizing the lands as alleged.
Meanwhile, Ruiru Member of Parliament Simon King'ara called upon the stakeholders to hold a meeting with the residents and solve the matter amicably. He also urged those claiming ownership of the land to provide valid documentation.
"If it is a road being constructed, why not bring the matter to the people openly, and why deploy security officers to guard the contractor?" he questioned.
