Over 700 families from Kavengero Village in Evurori Ward, Embu, are facing imminent eviction following a land ownership tussle dating back to 1972.
This is after the initial agreement by clan elders to subdivide the land sidelined the majority of the locals who had been in occupation of the close to 300 acres’ land since 1922.
They said it had been agreed upon by various clans that the land be allocated to the inhabitants, but a dispute arose after a section of leaders of Mukera and Nditi Clans moved to court to oppose the move.
They said the move went against the decision by other clans who live on the land leading to constant chaos that have so far claimed lives of three people.
The affected inhabitants said the two clans have been harassing them through eviction orders and notices and selling some of the parcels leading to conflicts between them and the buyers.
A resident, Paul Ndwiga faulted the whole process of demarcation that saw inhabitants left out and the land go to outsiders.
This, he said,
has created tension as they have nowhere else to go since that is the only place they have come to know as their home from time immemorial.
‘The land I am occupying currently is being contested by two individuals in court,’ he protested, as he accused the local administration of fueling animosity by attempting to enforce eviction orders.
He called on the government to intervene and have the land allocated to those families who originally occupied them and also stop eviction orders, notices and sale.
His son, David Njeru said they are living as squatters in their own land and it was high time the government stepped in to avert looming skirmishes.
On his part, Nyangi Ndiriri Council of Elders Chair Andrew Ireri who had paid the locals a visit to hear their plight, said their cry has gone unanswered for far too long and it was time their plight was addressed.
‘Those who benefited from the subdivision are the rich who are now attempting to evict these people from their ancestral land,’ he said.
They warned
of looming skirmishes as they are not ready to vacate their land without a fight.
Source: Kenya News Agency