Squatters destroy property as they battle police in land row

One person was killed and a police officer seriously injured following a fire exchange between police and squatters of Kibogi Farm in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County.

According to Eldoret East OCPD Nelson Taliti, the attacks occurred after the squatters resisted orders to get off the land.

“The squatters were given a deadline to move out after they lost a court case but they instead turned on the land owner, threatening his life and attacking his residence. This prompted police, who had been deployed to the site, to take charge of the situation,” Mr Taliti said.

He said a few hours into the fighting, he was forced to deploy even more officers to guard the premises and help with the squatters’ eviction.

“As the officers moved in, the armed squatters laid an ambush and started shooting at the officers hitting one on the leg. Police shot back in defence and killed one of the squatters,” Taliti said.

The OCPD said the injured officer was rushed to Reale Hospital in Eldoret.

He said so far four people had been arrested for wanton destruction of property.

Before the police arrived, the squatters had set ablaze a tractor, a lorry and a Land Cruiser, causing locals to fight back and set their (squatters’) homes on fire.

“It is not fair for a person to destroy his employer’s property just because he has been asked to leave. They should have asked for land instead of behaving as they did. They are no longer welcome here,” a resident said.