Squatters on Naivasha’s Kedong farm vow to not move

A view of Kedong ranch in Nakuru County on November 20, 2015. A showdown is looming between more than 500 inhabitants of the private farm in Naivasha and the government over a move to eject them. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

• Geothermal Development Director says some of the inhabitants are staging ownership in hope for compensation.

• Dwellers have been issued with a 15-days’ notice to vacate from the private land for or face eviction.

• Majority of those affected say they have been residing in the affected parcel of land for ages

A showdown is looming between more than 500 inhabitants of a private farm in Naivasha and the government over a move to eject them from the 1,000-acre parcel of land.

Speaking after meeting with their representatives Thursday, Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Mbogo Mathioya gave the dwellers a 15-day notice to vacate from the private land.

But the inhabitants, led by Nakuru County Turkana Chairman Justus Ekeno, vowed to defy the government order, stating that majority of those affected have been residing on the affected parcel of land for ages.

NOWHERE TO GO

“A good number of those affected were born and brought up in the area and have no other place to call home. We are going to stay put,” he stated.

Mr Ekeno appealed to the government to find an alternative parcel of land and resettle the affected group instead of issuing a directive for them to leave.

Another affected member of the community, Peter Ereng’, echoed similar sentiments, saying their forefathers used to work in the vast Kedong farm during colonial times.

NON-NEGOTIABLE

But Mr Mathioya asked the dwellers to heed the government directive so as to pave way for the commencement of a geothermal project being undertaken by a private company.

He warned the affected members against disobeying the order, turning down a request by the community leaders to give them additional time.

“Your members have only fifteen days to move out and those who resist will be forced out,” maintained the administrator.

PRIVATE PROJECT

The more than Sh3.3 billion project is being undertaken by the Akira Geothermal Limited.

Speaking to the Nation, the company’s Geothermal Development Director Stephen Onacha said some of those claiming to have been affected by the project moved to the farm recently.

“Some of them are “professional speculators” and set up makeshift shacks hoping to be compensated. A number moved in as late as two weeks ago,” he said.

But he maintained that the project will go on as scheduled, absolving the company from any blame.