Bungoma residents stage demos, decry plans to grab Kanduyi airstrip land
By Luke Oluoch, January 14, 2026Political activist and Bungoma gubernatorial aspirant Zacharia Barasa has accused unnamed influential politicians of being at the centre of a plot to grab the prime piece of land within Kanduyi town in Bungoma County.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, after he led the residents to a public participation forum, the politician decried the plans to allocate the land for the construction of smart cities and shopping malls as a selfish venture meant to benefit only a few leaders.
Barasa sees mischief in the plans to construct malls and affordable housing projects on the strategic assets, terming them part of a wider scheme of grabbing public land that has been ongoing in the county.
Grabbing land
“We know there are influential individuals within this county and some from outside who want to grab this land. They want to use it for affordable housing projects and construct buildings meant to serve their own selfish interests and not those of the residents of this county,” he said.
The politician asserted that he will lead the resistance to the move, adding that residents must first be involved in any decision made about the 50-acre parcel of land.
“What we want is not smart cities, but for the government to build industries for our people, which will in turn create employment for the ordinary mwananchi. The people themselves can build cities for themselves,” he posited
“We do not have smart cities in Eldoret, Kisumu, or elsewhere. What interest does the government have in this 50-acre piece of land?” He posed. “If they want to proceed, let them call for public participation and allow the people—who are the stakeholders—to decide. We are here today, and we say we will not allow individuals to grab this land,” he asserted.
His remarks come after he urged the residents of the region to convene for a public participation forum to discuss the status of the said land on Wednesday.
The activist later took to his Facebook page to convey a defiant message.
“Today, I reaffirm my steadfast resolve to protect and defend the interests of our people—without fear, without favour, and without apology.
“From Kiwanja Ndege to Nzoia Sugar Company, from Webuye Pan Paper Mills to Kitinda Dairies, from Malakisi Cotton Ginnery to BAT and Chenjeni Coffee Factory, and from the Chwele Chicken Slaughterhouse to the Webuye Milk Processing Plant—I will not relent.,”Barasa’s statement on his Facebook page read.
The forum also saw a number of youth fault the county leadership for prioritising projects that have no real benefits to residents while disregarding important issues and their plights.