Eleven people were on Monday arrested by Athi River administration police officers for allegedly encroaching on private land.
Athi River Deputy County Commissioner, Kodeck Makori, said the suspects who include 8 women and 3 men were arrested after they were found constructing structures on private land at Kwa Mang'eli area within Athi River town.
"This problem started last week when a group of people forcefully entered a private land at Kwa Mag'eli village in Athi River Town," Makori told the press in his office.
Makori said people claiming ownership of the land visited his offices to raise their complaints on the suspects whom they said had invaded their land.
The commissioner said the complainants presented their title deeds proving that they owned the parcels of land after buying them from original owners in the 1990's. This prompted the arrests.
Makori said the suspects had sub-divided the land into smaller plots yet other individuals were holding title deeds for the same land parcel.
He says he had previously advised the owners to secure their land through fencing to prevent the encroachers from gaining entry but they were allegedly chased away by a group of youth.
"The truth is that these people own the land genuinely. How, I do not know. The other group of people arrested constructing temporary houses on the land claim it is public land meant for a cemetery, why are they were sub-dividing and erecting houses on it of it is meant for public utility? " said Makori.
Makori said the suspects who are being held at the Athi River Police Station would be arraigned in court after investigations were complete.
Police also seized construction materials that were on site.