Residents from Makuyu in Maragua, Murang’a County, have opposed the proposal by the government to evict them to pave the way for the establishment of projects in the area.

This is a fresh test for President William Ruto’s administration, which has faced backlash over claimed illegal evictions to pave the way for the mega government’s projects, such as the Affordable Housing.

In a press briefing on Monday, December 8, 2025, in Makuyu, the residents expressed fears of losing their houses and other investments made on the parcels of land.

Mary Wanjiku, one of the residents, says they have been living on the land for more than three decades after they acquired it from the then local government after paying a certain amount of money.

“We were told that the allotment letters are not recognised at the land registry; thus, we can’t claim the ownership of the land,” she remarked.

“We got a rude shock after getting a report that the land is being taken by the government for the establishment of several projects, including the primary and secondary school and a playground.”

In a letter dated June 16, 2025, addressed to the residents, they were directed to submit the ownership documents, all relevant supporting documents or evidence of claim and all approvals for development obtained from the relevant authorities to the office of the deputy county commissioner in the area.

Illegal evictions?

The residents claim that they acquired the parcels of land from the defunct local government back in the 80s, and they got the allotment letters for ownership.

However, a few months ago, they were shocked to get a notice demanding that they vacate the land to make room for the establishment of several government projects.

On her part, Jane Nyambura, another resident, said government surveyors came to assess the land a few months ago despite their opposition to their eviction during a series of public forums organised by the local leaders.

“It appears like the county and national governments are flexing muscles against each other to see who wins the matter,” she said.

The matter has now seen the area Member of Parliament, Mary Waithira, get into loggerheads with the Lands Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome, with the two pointing accusing fingers at each other over the issue.

The MP claims that the CS is forcefully taking the land from the residents even without consulting anyone, and this caused an uproar from the people.

“People here think I am colluding with Wahome to have them ejected from the land because we are both in government, which is not the case,” the MP said.

Moreover, Wahome claims the MP is using her as a scapegoat, saying she (the MP) is the one who requested the projects in the area and said there is available land.

“The MP wants to use me as a shield against the attacks she is getting from the residents who are facing the eviction, but I am not going to let her mudsling me,” Wahome stated.

“From the start, she knew there was no available land for the projects unless people were evicted, and she wants to blame me for it.”