Tension high as more cops deployed to Kibiko over land dispute
A section of Kajiado leaders, led by Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, were on Monday barred from accessing the disputed Kibiko communal land, amid rising tension over the subdivision of the prime property.
Lenku, Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire and other leaders were blocked by police as they attempted to enter the disputed land, with police officers barricading the roads and firing teargas canisters to disperse the group.
The dispute involves the planned subdivision of 2,800 acres of communal land in Kajiado West valued at approximately Sh100 billion, a process that has revived longâstanding ownership wrangles between two rival factions within the community.
Tension escalated on December 22 when surveyors moved into the land to begin the subdivision exercise, sparking protests from one faction who claimed that they were being dispossessed of their land.
The situation later turned violent, and last Friday clashes between residents and security personnel left a police officer dead, several people injured, and property destroyed.
Addressing the press, Lenku condemned the violence, saying leaders must be allowed access to guide the community and ensure justice.
He insisted that the Kibiko land belongs to the people through the Keekonyokie Trust and emphasized that no outsiders would be allowed to displace the rightful owners.
“This land belongs to the people of Kibiko and we will not allow our residents to be displaced unlawfully,” he said.
Residents have called on the government to intervene and restore calm, warning that continued unrest could lead to further clashes, disrupt families, and cause loss of lives and property.
They noted that the land dispute has persisted for over 20 years and said it was high time the government stepped in to resolve the matter once and for all.
Several other people were injured in the chaos on December 26.
This has prompted deployment of more security officers including those from the General Service Unit.