Residents seek NLC help in land row

A section of Milimani West Estate in Nakuru town. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Over 500 families from the posh Nakuru’s Milimani West Estate have written to the National Land Commission (NLC) seeking intervention over a row with the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS).

KPS officers last week marked private homes, rental highrise buildings and businesses with huge red X, sending panic among residents who have lived in the area for the last 10 years.

The residents led by Colonel (Rtd) John Njuguna said the officers claimed that the 70 acre estate lies on KPS land.

“The heavily armed officers came here and marked the houses for demolition without notifying us. When we asked why they were doing that, they said we had encroached prisons land,” said Njuguna.

Nakuru County NLC officer Frank Kibelekenya yesterday met with the residents and said the commission was not aware of the move by KPS.

“As a commission, we are tasked with protecting public land and resolving such disputes. We have not been notified about this dispute. We have, however, taken up the matter,” said Mr Kibelekenya.

The residents said they would go to court, saying they were the legitimate owners.