Squatter Community Faces Displacement as Politician Seizes 1,500 Acres of Land in Uasin Gishu County
A letter dated November 2, 2009, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Moi University from the Commissioner of Lands explicitly warned against the institution’s interference with the squatters’ land
Mzee David Kemboi, 80, leads Ngeria Estate Squatters in protest yesterday over the invasion of their more than 1500 acre farm by a well-connected politician in Uasin Gishu County.
A community of squatters occupying over 1,500 acres of land were met with a startling revelation when they discovered that the property they had called home for more than five decades had been seized by a well-connected politician in Uasin Gishu County.
The politician, in question, utilized tractors to plow the expansive land in preparation for the planting season, much to the astonishment and dismay of the 300 families of squatters who observed the unfolding events from a distance.
Among the Ngeria Estate Squatters, including elderly individuals aged over 85, there were small groups seated at the edge of the land, contemplating their next steps as the tractors roared on, cultivating the land.
As per a letter issued by Robert Nyakeria, Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement, dated February 23, 2023, and directed to the Uasin Gishu County Land Adjudicator, the parcel of land measuring 1,513 acres had been designated for the Ngeria Estate Squatters, following reservation by the Commissioner of Lands for S.F.T to administer on behalf of the intended beneficiaries.
This prime agricultural land is adjacent to Moi University’s main campus, which had previously staked a claim on a portion of the disputed property, later relinquishing it following government intervention 15 years ago.
A letter dated November 2, 2009, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Moi University from the Commissioner of Lands explicitly warned against the institution’s interference with the squatters’ land, in response to complaints raised by the squatters’ chairman, Daniel Kemboi, regarding actions taken by the university.
Kemboi had protested against the university’s fencing of a portion of their farm and plans to construct an airstrip for pilot training courses on the same property. Additionally, complaints were raised over the university’s cultivation of the farm and selling of blue gum trees to the university-owned Rivatex Company Limited for firewood.
Addressing the media at the farm, Kemboi expressed dismay over the sudden intrusion, stating that they had been gearing up to cultivate maize on their land the following week. However, they awoke to the sound of tractors on the property they had utilized for nearly five decades.
Despite possessing legal ownership documents from the government, Kemboi lamented being restricted to a quarter-acre of land by the purported new owner, citing threats and intimidation. He appealed to President William Ruto to intervene before tensions escalated between the squatters and the said politician.
Another squatter, Joseph Kimeli, echoed Kemboi’s sentiments, questioning the legitimacy of those laying claim to their land and expressing bewilderment over their ability to deploy guards to invade the property. Despite reporting the matter to various government authorities, including the President’s office, no action had been taken against the politician.
They presented a letter from the President’s office, signed by S. Kamande on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, copied to the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner, dated October 11, 2011. The letter referred to a complaint from Ngeria Estate Squatters against a politician and instructed the provincial administrator to address the concerns raised in the attached letter dated August 18, 2011.
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