Nyeri locals angered by eviction threats

Over 200 residents of Kirichu village in Nyeri County are up in arms over alleged illegal sale and subdivision of land they have lived on since 1953.

The irate locals, most of whom were elderly, said they had sought assistance from Local Government officials since 1990 when they were pressured to vacate the land because they did not possess title deeds.

They said they were relocated there by the colonialists. Peter Macharia, 70, said residents had been pushed onto the land by the colonial government, and after independence the area had been recognised as a colonial village by the Nyeri local authority because they paid a plot fee of Sh40 until 1975.

“We cannot move out of this land without an alternative, so we are calling upon the county and national governments to help us get title deeds,” he said.

The villagers also claimed they had received eviction threats and were living in fear of having their homes demolished.

Area County Assembly Representative Baragu Mutahi said he had been informed of the threats and had asked residents to report to Kiganjo Police Station.

Similar incidents

“I am aware there had been some reports of threats in Kirichu village but the matter was reported to the police and there have been no similar incidents since then,” he said.

James Magenda, a representative of the villagers, said residents were appealing for an official probe into the eviction threats. He appealed to the Ministry of Lands to sub-divide the land and issue them with titles as promised years ago.

Meanwhile, a businessman has told a Nyeri court he cannot proceed with a case against his wife after he allegedly received threats to withdraw the case.

Geofrey Githaiga Wachira, 40, yesterday told Resident Magistrate John Aringo he was not ready to continue with the case and sought for adjournment.

He said he had been forced to relocate from Nyeri to Ol-Kalou for his safety and accused his wife Fridah Wambui Wachira, 23, of assault and causing him bodily harm.

“I have been intimidated and threatened by strange people to withdraw an assault case against my wife,” Wachira told the court.

The accused requested to have her husband compelled to return her mobile phones, which he allegedly stole from her.

“I have two children of two and three years and my husband has since disappeared,” said Wambui.

The case will be heard on February 2.