About 400 cave dwellers at Utut forest in Gilgil sub-county now want the government to allocate them a piece of land as it did to post-election violence victims.
The community says that it has been neglected by the government of Kenya since they migrated to the forest 32 years ago. The community is now asking the State to allocate them land where they can construct houses for their families.
The Utut community has raised its voice, saying that many of them have been killed by wild animals and diseases in the forest.
Charles Kiptoon, a cave dweller said he has suffered in the forest since 1982 when they were evicted from their original land in Lari division by unknown people.
“We have suffered and continue to suffer as no one recognises us. We need the government to settle us so that we can also live well,” said Kiptoon.
Gilgil East location chief Joseph Mwangi said he has talked to the government about the issue but nobody has acted on it. Mwangi added that he has attended meetings with officials from National Land Commission (NLC) but nothing tangible came out of it.
He said that the squatters my soon be evicted as they are interfering with the forest.
“I do not know what to do with these people. As the chief, I have no land to give them,” a dejected Mwangi said.