Kibiko Trust land members demonstrate in Ngong, Kajiado County. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

A group of women from Kibiku, Kajiado West, stormed the county headquarters and shut down operations yesterday at Governor Joseph ole Lenku's office.

They were protesting against the disinheritance of their Sh100 billion land near Ngong town.

The women, the majority of whom were widows and single mothers carrying children on their backs, trekked to Kajiado town and demanded that the governor intervene and seek an audience with President William Ruto over a dispute in Kibiku land, which they fear will be taken away from them.

Wailing and singing dirges, the women condemned a cross-section of Kajiado West leaders, accusing them of conspiring with land brokers and cartels to illegally subdivide the land and sell it to unsuspecting investors.

The women, led by Ann Teeka, Margaret Moitalel, and Sylvia Kipees, said they sought Lenku's intervention after the cartels began using national government officers to dispose of the land.

"As we watch, we are being disinherited. People have lost money by selling our land. We've learned that they took a list to the Ministry of Lands. We want the governor to protect our right to the land, even if that means requesting President Ruto's intervention," Moitalel said.

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The protest follows the announcement last week by Kajiado West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Morang'a Morekwa of a moratorium on farther land subdivisions.

The women began by holding a meeting outside the county assembly offices, where they chastised Speaker Justus Ngussur, who is from the area, for abandoning them and siding with outsiders.

They also invited Woman Rep Leah Sankaire to attend and show her support.

Governor Lenku, who was forced to interrupt his office programme to address the women, promised to protect their rights to the land.

"I'm in discussions with the Lands CS, and we'll soon smoke out the cartels. An investigation is underway to identify those who were determined to dispose of the land illegally," Lenku said.