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A row over a prime land in Ruiru, Kiambu county pitting over 3,000 families and an unknown private developer has intensified after irate locals ejected earthmovers constructing roads in the area.

The over 23,000 acres of land located at Gikumari village is home for thousands of locals who have settled there for over four decades.

The irked locals whose land straddles the Eastern Bypass and Juja Farm claim to have bought the land decades ago and have all the requisite land documents to back their claim.

According to them, high ranking individuals are behind the plot to forcefully evict them to put up high-rise buildings in the area.

Trouble began last month after a meeting held in the village by local authorities turned chaotic after the government officials led by Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Margaret Mbugua allegedly openly described their title deeds as fake and that they would be evicted in due course.

The irked property owners claimed that they have been told those who have built on the land will be compensated, but people with undeveloped parcels should not put up anything.

The administrator however refuted the claims of eviction saying that she was not aware of any plans to evict the occupiers and maintained that the government was only opening up roads in the area.

“We are aware that there are multiple cases of double allocations but the matter is being handled by the relevant ministry. While I don’t know about any plans to have people evicted, I know the government has embarked on repairing pathetic roads in the area,” said the DCC.