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Members of Barina Squatters Self-help group land project in Rongai, Nakuru County, have asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to overhaul the security command in the area over claims of failure to abide by the law.

The over 700 members claimed that the security agencies had failed to enforce a court order issued by a Nakuru court which directed the police to provide security to the members as they occupy a multi-million 4,803-acre disputed land.

Chief Magistrate Lilian Arika (pictured) on January 19 had directed that members of the self-help group be provided with security in order for them to move into the land they bought in 2002 at Barina area.

Rogue officers

In the order, the Rongai Sub-County Police Commander and Officer Commanding Menengai Police Station were to enforce the directive. But the members accuse the police of reluctance to deal with the matter.

The group’s chairman Patrick Maguru said the police told them that they needed to liaise with the opposing group known as Barina lobby group before taking any action.

“The order was received and stamped yet the sub county commander is still hesitant to effect it. I suspect there is a well calculated move to negate justice through rogue officers in the local security and administration team,” said Maguru.

He added that beside the court ruling, the National land Commission had handled the dispute and issued directions similar to those issued by the court.  “We are calling on the CS Interior and the Inspector General of Police to crackdown on the command for failure to perform an act that is required by law through an order.”

Maguru said members of Barina squatters’ self-help group land project bought the propert from Standard chartered bank in June 2002 after a white settler defaulted on a loan he had taken with the bank.