A long-running land dispute in Kajiado County erupted into public view yesterday as hundreds of irate supporters of Moses Parantai stormed into Governor Joseph Ole Lenku’s office to deliver a petition.
The protest, which brought a sense of tension to the county headquarters, was over the alleged irregular subdivision and management of the vast Kibiko community land in Ngong.
The demonstration is the latest chapter in a multi-billion-shilling land saga that has plagued the Keekonyokie Community for over a decade. The 2,800-acre parcel, originally a government animal holding ground, was handed back to the community, but its subdivision and the issuance of title deeds have been mired in political and legal battles.
“We are here to demand justice for our people,” “The people of Kibiko are tired of the endless wrangles and alleged fraud. Our land is our heritage, and we will not allow it to be taken away through backdoor deals.”Parantai told reporters outside the Governor’s office. Moses Parantai, had earlier served as a leader of the land’s interim trustees
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The petitioners claim that the ongoing leadership dispute and a recent High Court ruling have been complicated by political machinations, which they allege have favored a rival faction. The court recently ordered Parantai’s team to hand over the land title to a newly elected group led by Moses Monik Kusero, a decision that Parantai’s supporters view as part of a larger scheme to dispossess them.
The Kajiado Governor’s office has weighed in on the contentious matter with an official press release, in the statement, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku publicly affirmed that his government “only recognises the Moses Parantai team as the legitimate officials of the Trust land.”
He further disclosed that he has received a petition signed by over 500 community members who are against the issuance of any title deeds for the yet-to-be-subdivided land. The Governor emphasized that the matter is still before the Court of Appeal and any attempt to issue titles would be “illegal and an affront to our Judiciary.”
For his part, Governor Lenku has consistently maintained that his office is committed to protecting the community’s land from what he calls “cartels and fraudsters.”
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With the land valued at billions of shillings, the struggle for control over its subdivision is fiercely contested, pitting community leaders and political figures against each other.
The County Security team was present to monitor the situation, ensuring the peaceful delivery of the petition.
By Masaki Enock
