KAKUZI — More than 10,000 squatters in Kakuzi are demanding urgent government intervention after armed groups and suspected land opportunists invaded land earmarked for resettlement. The disputed land, located in Murang’a County, has been the focus of a decades-long struggle for rightful ownership. The invasion began shortly after the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Ministry of Lands confirmed the completion of a settlement plan to issue title deeds by December 2025. President William Ruto had earlier assured the affected families they would finally receive legal ownership of their ancestral land by the end of the year.
Squatter leader Murigi Njogu issued a direct appeal to authorities, warning that the invasion could derail what has been promised as a historic act of justice.“If these criminals are not evicted, there will be blood and tears,” he said. “We want the government to act decisively and protect the integrity of this historic process.”
“We have cried for 60 years and finally the government has heard us,” Njogu said during a press briefing on Monday. “But now, strangers have poured into our land to claim what is ours. This is a dangerous and unacceptable plot. We want them out and we want them out now.”
Eyewitnesses and community members say the invaders began arriving days after news of the resettlement plan became public. According to Njogu, the groups are attempting to blend into the community and influence the list of land beneficiaries.
Local resident Catherine Njambi, who was born and raised on the disputed land, expressed fear that the long-awaited promise may be undermined.
“We have suffered enough,” she said. “This is the only home we know. President Ruto has given us hope, and we will not allow goons to steal our inheritance.”
While the squatters called for urgent action, they also urged calm among their members. Njogu encouraged the community to remain peaceful and patient as they wait for an official government response.
The group expressed appreciation to President Ruto, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, and the NLC for their efforts but insisted that only the legitimate squatters many of whom have lived on the land since the post-colonial era should benefit.
Security officials have yet to issue a formal statement, but pressure is mounting for swift action to remove the intruders and secure the area ahead of the title deed issuance.
The Kakuzi land conflict dates back to Kenya’s independence era, when British settler farms were left behind and questions over rightful ownership lingered for decades. For thousands of families, the promise of resettlement is not just a legal correction it is the final chapter of a generational fight for recognition.
As the December deadline approaches, the situation has become a critical test of Kenya’s land reform promises, government accountability, and ability to uphold justice for historically marginalized communities.
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