Mau Mau veteran allowed to evict squatters from his Njoro land

Mau Mau veteran Kamanga Mukonyoro and some 722 descendants have finally obtained a decree allowing them to evict 200 squatters from a 100-acre land in Njoro, Nakuru County.

In the decree issued by Justice Anthony Ombwayo, Mukonyoro has been allowed to evict them in a month’s time if the squatters refuse to vacate the property. The veteran claimed he had won his second war in a bid to settle his people on the land they rightfully own.

According to Mukonyoro, together with other veterans who died, they were allocated the subject land by late President Daniel Moi, in 1996. He said they paid Sh820,000 for the land. “We won the first war against colonisers and as an appreciation, the President settled us on the land. However, we have never fully enjoyed it to date. I feel like I have won a second war,” he said.

Mukonyoro said although he was over 85, he never got tired of fighting for his colleagues and their descendants. “I am now a millionaire and I finally got what I deserved after fighting for the country’s independence,” he told The Standard.

He said his fight will not end with the evictions but he still plans to repossess land in Gilgil, Dundori, Elburgon, Molo, Londiani, Nyahururu, Nanyuki and Nyahururu. “We were not only allocated land in Njoro but other parts of Kenya. We urge those occupying properties allocated to freedom fighters to vacate them,” he said.

James Maina, Mukonyoro’s son and an official of the Mau Mau descendants said people who had rented houses within the land have started vacating it. However, he said those who had constructed on the land have refused to leave, despite several pleas from them.

Maina said many lives had been lost during the land dispute in court. Joseph Chege, the chair of the squatters dubbed Njoro Golf Club squatters, still insist they are the owners of the land. He said they inherited it from their late parents who had worked in Njoro Golf Club since the 1930s. Chege said they will appeal Ombwayo’s decision and seek stay of execution of the eviction. The two groups have been fighting for the property since 2001. Mukonyoro through his lawyer Paul Wanjir and Kipkoech Terer proved before court that they own the land.

In early February, Ombwayo declared the over 200 squatters as trespassers on the land and ordered them to vacate within 90 days. “A permanent injunction is issued restraining the plaintiffs (squatters) or any other person from continuing being in occupation or trespassing on the defendants’ (Mau Mau) land,” ruled Ombwayo.