Residents of Kapyemit location held a demonstration on Friday afternoon, following the increased cases of land grabbers in the area.
The citizens complained of prominent people taking advantage of their power to take away their land, in which they have been possessing for over 25 years.
“We have been occupying this land since 1990 up to date, but recently, some people came claiming that this land belongs to them,” said Joseph Kipsang’ the chairman of the squatters.
Kipsang’ said that some prominent people in the region benefit from land grabbing, leaving the land owners with no power over their ancestral land.
The residents claimed that they have raised their issues to different authorities, but their pleas have not been addressed.
“No one has listened to us; even our MP and MCA have turned their back on us. So we have decided to ask the president and his deputy to address this issue because we are suffering,” said Philip Cherutich, the secretary of the squatters.
They also raised concern that the members of the land committee that was formed to protect them is full of family members, who are protecting their own interests rather than addressing the land grabbing issues.
Joseph Chebore, the chairman of the URP in Keiyo South said that some prominent people claim that they were given allotment some years back and they have come to demand it back.
He also said that there are individuals who own large share of the land compared to others.
“I wonder how some people own about 45 hectares, while others own five hectares. It means someone is benefiting from our property,” said Chebore.
The residents also raised issues of insecurity in the area, since the officers in the region evict them at night without any eviction notice.
The residents have asked the government to help them solve the land grabbing issue, which if not resolved will leave over 100 families homeless.
The land under dispute is 140 acres in Kapyemit location.