More than 1,500 squatters residing on a 400-acre parcel of state land in Kiambu County have voiced their frustrations, urging the Ministry of Lands to fulfill a 31-year-old promise. The squatters, who have called the land home for over three decades, are appealing to Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to intervene and ensure they are granted ownership or proper settlement.
The dispute traces back to 1994 when former President Daniel arap Moi issued a decree to degazette the land and allocate it to the squatters. The 419-acre plot was intended to provide a solution after concerns were raised by former Githunguri MP Arthur Magugu. He had pointed out that the Kamiti Forest, where the squatters currently live, was being used as a hideout by criminals, which prompted the government to allocate the land to its inhabitants.
Led by Kamiti Forest Squatters Association Chairman Philip Makau Kitavi, the squatters have been seeking justice for decades. Kitavi explained that the land was originally given to their parents, many of whom were employed by the forestry department, but most of these individuals have since passed away. Despite the allocation, the squatters have not been formally settled, and many are now left in limbo.
Kitavi further expressed concern about the involvement of cartels in the area. According to him, illegal land dealers have infiltrated the land, selling portions of it to unsuspecting buyers, a situation that has worsened their plight. “The land was meant for us, but now, it is being taken away from us by those who have no right to it,” he lamented.
Among the squatters is Fatuma Boru, a mother of seven, who described the hardships they face daily. “When Moi gave us the land, I was a young girl with no children. Now, I am a mother of seven. We are struggling, and most of us are unemployed,” she said. She appealed to President William Ruto to hear their cries and help resolve the matter.
As the squatters continue to wait for justice, their situation remains dire. They are calling on CS Wahome to take swift action by visiting the area and finding a permanent solution. Their 30-year-long wait for settlement, which many see as a matter of life and dignity, continues to be a painful reminder of unfulfilled promises and delays in land reforms.
