A group of residents from Ngong staged a protest outside the Karen residence of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday morning, accusing senior government officials of involvement in a major land-grabbing scheme.
The demonstrators alleged that over 2,000 acres of prime land in Kibiko, valued at approximately Ksh2 billion, had been illegally taken with the help of officials from the Ministry of Lands. They camped outside Raila’s home holding placards and tree branches, demanding his intervention and urging him to help safeguard what they described as their ancestral land.
The protesters directly criticised Lands Principal Secretary (PS) Nixon Korir and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, faulting them for failing to resolve the issue. They further called for the immediate resignation of PS Korir.
The group also accused Kajiado West Member of Parliament (MP) George Sunkuyia of playing a role in the alleged illegal takeover. According to the residents, the land in question belongs to the Maasai community and was inherited from their forefathers.
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This protest came just two days after Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku publicly assured locals that their rights to the land would be defended. On September 24, the governor urged the residents to remain calm, explaining that the matter is still under judicial consideration.
Ole Lenku pointed out that the Court of Appeal had already directed that the disputed title deed be surrendered, stressing that the legal process was ongoing. He assured residents that despite fears of political interference, the government could not lawfully seize their land while the case was before the courts.
The standoff over the Kibiku land continues to stir strong emotions within the Maasai community, with the latest demonstrations showing the growing pressure on national and county leaders to address the dispute.
By Benedict Aoya
