Honour eviction order, National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri tells squatters

Some of the houses belonging to squatters on Ben-Moi Farm in Uasin Gishu County that were torched by residents who accused them of encroachment last week. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

The National Land Commission (NLC) has asked individuals settled on the conflict-torn Ben-Moi Farm in Uasin Gishu to respect the court ruling on their eviction.

Last Wednesday, one squatter died and a police officer was left nursing serious injuries after a land tussle on the farm went out of control. More than 300 squatters who claimed they have lived on the farm since 1948 confronted policemen who had come to evict them. Farm machinery and vehicles estimated to be worth over Sh15 million were burnt down by the squatters, prompting locals to side with policemen in the eviction during which they overpowered the squatters and burnt down over 50 houses.