Ruto Announces Next Steps Amidst Looming Njiru Land Demolitions

President William Ruto on Thursday, October 26 announced intervention measures to address the rising cases of land grabbing in the country as thousands of Kenyans face evictions from the land in East Riverside Drive in Njiru, Nairobi owned by the late Billionaire Gerishon Kirima.

Speaking during the flagging off of Motor Vehicles for Education offices in Kasarani, Ruto revealed that he received information regarding a section of Kenyans who had built flats and residential homes around the Kenya Insitute of Special Education (KISE) without the required documents.

The institution was reported to have acquired around 70 acres of land, 20 of which have been grabbed.

The Head of State announced that the government was willing to enter into an agreement with the owners of the building to avoid cases of unnecessary demolitions which can attract legal consequences.

"I am told some people have built flats around this area, we will negotiate with them. We need the money to build factories, we shall divide the land and sell it to them at market value," Ruto declared.

However, Ruto did not shy away from condemning acts of impunity which have seen fraudsters faking land titles in their mission to swindle Kenyans of their hard-earned money.

"What we must get rid of in the country is impunity. We all must play by the rules and we are all equal. The people who are willing to negotiate should do so that is the best way to go about it," he added.

He further urged the area Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri to sit down with the settlers regarding the planned land to come up with a way forward that satisfies everyone.

Ruto also called upon the county and national government to facilitate a better form of settlement for such settlers, adding that this would save Kenyans from unnecessary demolitions leading to losses in property worth millions of shillings.

"Karauri all your people, we have no problem with them we will do the valuation of the land, get the money and they can continue with their lives. Otherwise, you know the drill," he stated.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja who was also at the event called for the regularisation of the county's process of settlement to avoid residents being tormented by surprise rulings threatening their stay in homes built on contested land.

"Many of the victims were third-party buyers. As a county we will liaise with the Ministry of Land and the regional commissioner with your permission Mr President, we will hold a discussion with the families in Njiru to find out a way they can pay for the land. We cannot go and demolish over 6,000 houses," he remarked.

Thousands of families living on 1,000-acre land belonging to the late Kirima were staring at evictions after a court ruled in favour of the former MP’s family.

Consequently, the Environment and Land Court on Tuesday, October 24 gave the unregistered occupants of a parcel of land estimated to be worth Ksh5 billion 70 days to vacate or face evictions on January 1, 2024.

The disputed land stretches on both sides of Kangundo Road and touches three constituencies, Kasarani, Embakasi East and Embakasi Central.

A photo of the late billionaire Gerishon Kirima. /CAPITAL GROUP