Residents of Kisiriri village in Rumuruti, Laikipia county, are resisting eviction from their ancestral land, claiming a powerful investor is behind the attempts. The disputed property, registered as LR No. 24/26, measures about 2,192 acres and has been the subject of an ongoing court case. The villagers, who have lived on the land for generations, say they are farmers and not pastoralists as they have often been portrayed.
Antony Lolonyokie, a resident, said he has lived in the area for 45 years and raised his children there. He claimed that the original owner of the land died in 1957 and their parents were subsequently allowed to settle and farm on it. The residents alleged that local administrators are attempting to facilitate the takeover of the land by the investor.
Elizabeth Lengethe, a resident, said tension escalated after a local administrator allegedly issued a notice requiring residents to vacate the land. She claimed police officers had been deployed to the area, although residents said they had not personally received the alleged eviction notice. The residents have called on President William Ruto and the Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene.
Moses Lengerde, a resident, said the community was concerned that an eviction could take place while their case was still before the courts. He claimed that five police vehicles were brought to the area during an attempted eviction, but residents refused to leave. The villagers also raised concerns over an alleged agreement by some locals to surrender the land to the investor.
Wilson Leshau, a resident and village leader, said about 3000 villagers were affected by the dispute. He said the community lodged a complaint in court on April 28, 2018, but claimed they were yet to receive a resolution to the dispute. Leshau accused local brokers and administrators of colluding with the investor.
The residents have urged the authorities to resolve the dispute through the courts and dialogue rather than force, saying any eviction would affect families who depend on the land for their livelihoods. The dispute comes against the backdrop of an agricultural landscape in the wider Rumuruti area, where farms and greenhouses, including flower-growing operations, have transformed large tracts of land into commercial agricultural enterprises.
The residents said they were prepared to remain on the land and continue defending their ancestral home. They called for the transfer of the local administrator whom they accuse of supporting efforts to evict residents. The allegations could not be independently verified.
Key points
- Residents claim a powerful investor is behind eviction attempts
- Disputed land measures about 2,192 acres
- About 3000 villagers are affected by the dispute
