Summary:
In Ruiru, Kiambu County, a dispute involving 3,000 families and a private developer intensifies as residents expel road construction equipment. The conflict revolves around a 23,000-acre parcel, with locals claiming ownership for over 40 years.
Tensions escalate in Ruiru, Kiambu County, as a land dispute between 3,000 families and an unidentified private developer reaches a boiling point.
Locals forcefully ejected earthmovers involved in road construction on the contested 23,000-acre property in the Gikumari area, spanning the Eastern Bypass and Juja Farm.
Residents, residing on the land for over 40 years, accuse high-profile individuals of coveting the prime property, expressing fear of potential forced eviction.
A recent village meeting intensified the conflict when local authorities, led by Deputy County Commissioner Margaret Mbugua, allegedly dismissed residents’ title deeds as fake, hinting at impending eviction.
While property owners claim compensation for developed plots, authorities maintain that undeveloped parcels should remain untouched.
The administrator denies eviction plans, attributing government actions to road development, addressing multiple allocations as individual cases.
Infuriated locals, protesting on Wednesday, allege that the private developer is carving roads through their land without consultation, accompanied by heavy security.
Residents voice concerns about lack of public participation, expressing determination to resist perceived eviction plans.
Pauline Wangari, a resident for 40 years, disputes the authenticity claim, holding legitimate land ownership documents.
Another resident, Anastacia Nyambura, faces potential eviction after escaping post-election violence in 2007 and purchasing land in the village.
Amidst anguish and psychological trauma, residents question the silence of regional leaders, urging government intervention and human rights activists’ support.
The community seeks protection from possible eviction, questioning the sudden interest in the area by a developer after more than four decades.