Despair as Maasai families are evicted from another Karen land

An estimated 150 families from the Maasai community spent their nights in the cold after their homes were demolished in Nairobi's Karen area.

The homes at Karen Plains Manyatta village were demolished on Friday last week by Government security officers who have returned every day since to make sure the houses are not rebuilt.

"We have lived on this land since 1979. Our grandfathers are the labourers who came to work for the settlers who lived here," said Matayo Oleleposo, a community elder in the village.

"Police officers came here on Friday morning in five cars. They were over 50 officers and they came with a bulldozer and six dogs. This was the third time our homes are being demolished."

He said police officers have visited the village, which sits on a 10-acre every day since Friday to make sure that even the makeshift structures were not put up.

SAD MOMENT

The Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Alex Ole Magelo, together with the area Ward Representative David Mberia visited the village yesterday.

Mr Magelo appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and stop the harassment of the Maasai community.

"It is a sad moment when we talk of such injustices visited upon innocent Kenyans. The Government cannot claim not to know what is going on here when it is police officers who were used to do the demolishing," he said.

The Speaker said police officers should not be used to protect land grabbers adding that if the Maasai community on the 10-acre were forced out, no one would be able to handle the backlash from the Maasai's.

"This land is Government land and there are claims that there are seven different title deeds to the land. How is it possible for seven different people to own the same piece of land? Land should not be a preserve of the rich," he added.

Magelo said if the community at Karen Plains Manyatta village are forced out, he would take it upon himself with the help of other Maasai leaders to relocate them to any land they would find vacant in Kajiado County.

SHOCK DEATH

"I think it should be decided that when the 99-year-lease on any land that was originally Maasai community land expires, then the land should revert back to the Maasai," the Speaker said.

The area Ward Representative David Mberia said the leaders did not know the people who claim to own the piece of land.

"The community here has lived on the land for over 30 years. The land is owned by the Government and they have been hoping the Government will issue them with title deeds," he said.

Mr Mberia said a woman who had been unwell at the time of the demolition had died from the shock of the whole exercise.

The Speaker and the ward representative brought the villagers maize flour and cooking oil as they waited for action from the Government on the contested piece of land.