The debate surrounding the Waitiki Farm is far from over as residents of the disputed land continue to give mixed reactions regarding the issue of the land.
Speaking to this writer at the farm on Monday, a section of the residents claimed that their right to own the land has been contravened following the move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to issue title deeds that will see them own the land on a leasehold basis.
The piece of land which has attracted a lot of public debate is home to hundreds of indigenous residents who claim that the move by the president to give them title deeds has denied them the right to own land like other residents elsewhere.
A section of the residents said that giving them the right to own the land for 99 years on a lease basis was like taking them for a ride.
Their biggest worry is that once the stipulated period elapses, they will be rendered landless, something they say is not good for them, considering they were born in the said land.
The residents said that the land belongs to their grandparents.
“Where will my grandchildren go to after the lease period expires. We were born here and we have no other land,” said Yusuf Adan, a resident.
He added, “The debate surrounding the ownership of this land should not even be an issue because we know who the rightful owners are.”
Sophia Abdi, a resident, said that the question surrounding the land is not an issue to discuss.
“We have lived here since the days of our grandparents. The move by the President to issue 'fake' title deeds is unacceptable,” she said.
Suleiman Omar, a resident, said he is planning to move to court to contest the move by the government to lease the land to them.