Settlers on Kirima land in court to stop eviction

Chokaa, Mihang'o and Njiru where the court ruled that illegal inhabitants must vacate by December 31, 2023. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Some of the people who have settled on the late politician Gerishon Kirima's land in Njiru, Nairobi, have moved to court to block their eviction.

The 31 settlers, who are members of the Chokaa Upper Chamber Welfare group, are seeking orders from High Court Judge Judy Omange.

The petitioners, led by Mackenzie Odera, have listed the Chief Land Registrar Nairobi, Unity Self-Help Group, Hurlinghum Squatters Development, Njiru Mihang'o Farmers Housing Scheme, the Attorney General, Nairobi City County Government, and administrators of the property, Teresia Wairimu Kirima and Anne Wangare Kirima, as the defendants. The occupants maintain that they own plots in various parts of Chokaa area in Njiru sub-county, where they have developed homes.

"We purchased the land from Unity Self-Help Group, Hurlinghum Squatters Development, and Njiru Mihango Farmers Housing Scheme," they said through their lawyer Cecil Miller.

They want the court to stay the execution of a judgment issued by Justice Samson Okong'o last year, directing them to vacate the over 1,000-acre land owned by the Kirima family.

Okong'o had set a December 31, 2023, deadline for the settlers to leave or face eviction.

"We have been receiving varying price quotations through various letters sent to us by advocates of the family of Kirima and brokers without consultation with the officials of Chokaa Upper Chamber Welfare Group and its members," they say.

Following Okong'o's judgment, homeowners on the land moved to court and obtained an interim injunction that halted their eviction as they negotiated with the Kirima family. However, the 31 settlers now argue that there were no site visits done on their plots to establish whether their parcels belong to Kirima.