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A group of squatters residing on more than 1,500 acre land woke up to a rude shock when they discovered the property they have called home for over five decades had been taken over by a well-connected politician in Uasin Gishu county.

The politician deployed tractors on the vast land to plough in readiness for planting season to the shock and disbelief of the 300 squatter families who watched the unfolding drama from a distance.

Some of the Ngeria Estate squatters, among them elderly men and women aged over 85 years sat in small groups on edge of the vast land pondering their next move as the roaring tractors ploughed the land.

According to a letter from Robert Nyakeria, Director of Land, Adjudication and Settlement the said parcel of land measuring 1,513 acres is earmarked for the Ngeria Estate squatters after reservation by Commissioner of Lands for S.F.T to administer on behalf of the intended beneficiaries.

The signed letter dated February 23, 2023 and addressed to Uasin Gishu County Land Adjudicator instructs him to draw up a work plan and a budget to facilitate implementation of the programme.

Disputed property

The prime agricultural land borders Moi University main campus, which also had claimed a section of the disputed property before surrendering it following government intervention 15 years ago.

In a letter dated November 2, 2009 from the Commissioner of Lands addressed to Moi University Vice chancellor warned the institution’s top management against interfering with the squatters’ land.

The letter signed by R.K Mutio for Commissioner of Lands read in part: “Kindly you and your institution have been asked to desist from further interference of the said parcel as it belongs to the squatters as per our record.”

This was in response to complaints that had been raised by the squatters through their chairman Daniel Kemboi, 80, over the move by Moi

University to fence some portion of their farm with a view to constructing an airstrip for learners undertaking pilot courses on the same property.

Cutting trees

Kemboi had also raised complaints over the university’s move to plough the farm while cutting down the blue gum trees in the same farm and selling the same to university owned Rivatex Company limited for firewood.

 Speaking to the media yesterday at the farm, Kemboi said they were preparing to prepare and plant their land under maize next week but upon waking up in the morning, they heard the roaring noise of tractors on the same property they have been utilizing for nearly half a century.

Kemboi said they have now been confined to a quarter an acre by the purported new owner despite having legal ownership documents for the land from the government.

“We cannot access our property for farming activities due threats and intimidation from the powerful individual who boasts of being  a close ally of the Head of State  and that there  is nothing we can do to him,” said Kemboi.

He is now calling on President William Ruto to intervene in their plight before the situation on the ground gets out of hand noting that tension was heightening between the squatters and the politician over the invasion.

 Another squatter Joseph Kimeli 55 claimed that the individuals who are laying claim to their land, have no supporting documents over the property and wondered where they were getting the guards to invade their property.

He claimed that they have reported the matter to various government authorities including the President’s office over the politician’s action but to their surprise nothing indeed has been taken against him.