Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged a decisive and far-reaching crackdown on organised land cartels that he claims are responsible for the squatter invasions and illegal land occupations in Machakos County.

Speaking on April 26, 2025, during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum in the county, Murkomen noted that Machakos’ proximity to Nairobi has made it an attractive target for organised criminal networks orchestrating land invasions.

“Machakos County gets from being part of the Nairobi metropolitan area has made it a very safe haven for criminals running away from the city,” Murkomen stated.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, these operations involve gangs brought in from various parts of the country, along with hired squatters.

“The squatter problem in Machakos is not historical. Most of these so-called squatters are actually gangs, procured, transported, and paid by powerful individuals to illegally occupy land for future takeover,” he added.

Criminal syndicates

Murkomen disclosed the extensive reach of these criminal networks, asserting that influential businessmen, politicians, and government officials—including individuals from the Ministries of Lands and Interior—are colluding with these syndicates to defraud landowners.

He revealed that some criminal gangs have even established quarry operations on illegally occupied properties to profit from the land while litigation or evictions remain unresolved.

“There is no inch of land in this republic that we are going to surrender to any gangs or criminals. Whether they come from Nairobi or any other part of the country, Machakos will not be turned into their South Avenue,” Murkomen warned.

Whole-of-government approach

The Interior CS confirmed that the issue has been escalated to the National Security Council and will be addressed as part of a whole-of-government policy.

“This cannot be left to one administration. It must be a continuous national strategy,” he emphasised.

Murkomen outlined plans to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Lands and landowners in Machakos to secure property ownership and implement existing task force recommendations aimed at curbing land fraud.

“We must be proactive. We know the pattern — from Portland land to BAT land — and we know where they’ll strike next,” he said.

“There are already existing government task force reports that need implementation, and once we escalate this issue to the National Security Council through the National Security Committee, we will then sift out all these issues together and communicate the way forward,” Murkomen added.