Eight 8 years dilemma for Mukunike land owners who can’t access their land

Thika,

Monday, September 25, 2023

KNA by Muoki Charles

It has been an eight year of dilemma and frustration for over 500 land owners of Mukunike area, Thika East Sub County after buying land from squatters who cannot allow them to access it.

After buying the land in 2017, the squatters who had been allocated the land by the then government refused to vacate and have since resisted any attempt by the new owners to access or develop it.

The squatters instead took the government demanding for more land rather than the ¼ acre plot that they received since they were the original settlers in the land.

The court gave the squatters stay orders and not to do any transaction nor develop the area until the case is heard and determined.

According to the new land owners, the squatters have allegedly been selling the same pieces of land to unsuspecting buyers and chasing away the original buyers whenever they wanted to develop their land.

Pastor Cyrus Warima, one of the victims said most of the new owners have sunk into depression and abject poverty as they put all their savings to buy the plots.

“If not addressed as a matter of urgency, this might escalate into a security issue. We won’t watch as our plots which we bought are being sold to other new owners, yet we can’t step in them,” said Warima.

The squatters, most of them old persons are said to have uprooted all the beacons in the controversial land and have devised a new method of striping naked and raising alarm to scare away the land owners.

Galma Ade, another victim said some new owners have sustained injuries from the unruly squatters and their goons as they attempt to visit their plots.

He said they were living in a nightmare after pooling their life savings and buying the prime plots hoping to transform their lives.

He called on the court to fast track ruling of the case so as to end their suffering.

Paul Kimenyi, the chairman of the Mukunike squatters refuted the claims saying anyone who has been duped should report the matter to the police.

He said they were waiting for the court judgement on the land issue before any decision can be made.

Courtesy; KNA