Squatters at an informal settlement scheme have threatened to violently resist attempts by a private developer of initiating any construction activity at a piece of land adjacent to the settlement area.
Nyamakuroto chairperson, Isaiah Mulwa,lead the slum dwellers in pulling down a barbed wire fence that was erected by the developer.
while talking to this writer at the disputed plot after leading residents of the slum area in pulling down a barbed wire fence that was erected by the developer yesterday, said the residents would use all manner of ways to resist any form of development on the piece of land.
“This plot belongs to this scheme. As you can see, it is a rocky valley that cannot sustain livelihood. It was set aside for consideration for other community amenities in future. Our animals graze here and our children play from here. We do not know who sold it to the developer, but we are find out,’’ said Mulwa.
The slum area adjacent to the popular Teachers estate is occupied by remnants and descendants of former white highlands farm workers in Northern parts of Nakuru town.
The group claims the founding President Jomo Kenyatta had promised to issue the squatters with title deeds but he died before fulfilling the promise.
According to the squatters’ leader retired president, Daniel Moi, had also promised to issue them with title deeds but the plan also never materialized due to local politics.
“We have been threatened with eviction on several occasions but we have remained united and stood our ground. Lucky enough, local land and settlement advocacy groups have been steady fast on our defence,’’said the slum leader.