Over 160 residents of Kipkongor, Lelpanget and Kiptagich in Kuresoi South Nakuru County have gone to court protesting alleged harassment by police who use excessive force to remove them from their farms.
They urged the government to process the title deeds for them saying they are the bona fide owners of the land in question and had all right to demand for title deeds.
"We were born and raised in this place; we do not have any other place to call home apart from those places. We are surprised by how the police are using excess force to expel us from here when we are residents of this place," said a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Through their lawyer Kipkoech Nge'tich, the resident told the court that the current and former government has used powerful cartels to harass them and it was time for them to claim their right.
The government has been pushing for the removal of people who have encroached on forest reserves and these were the affected areas.
The Mau forest forms the largest canopy forest ecosystem of Kenya recognized as most crucial water source in Kenya.
Despite its critical importance in sustaining economic development, the Mau complex has been impacted by extensive illegal, irregular and ill planned settlements coupled with felling of trees by charcoal burners.
Residents of the affected areas however, have vowed to relocate subject to compensation by the government.