Rogue police aiding land cartels in Mavoko put on notice

MACHAKOS, Kenya, Dec, 20 – Machakos County Commissioner Fredrick Ndunga has put security and administration officers on the spot following reports that they are colluding with suspected land cartels to steal from rightful owners.

Ndunga who was on a fact finding mission visited the Ngelani Land Community in Mavoko Sub-county following numerous reports that rogue police officers have been harassing and attacking residents before forcefully evicting and demolishing their homes.

The Ngelani Community sits on a disputed 4,300 acre piece of land and has more than 10,000 members.

“I want to warn police officers colluding with cartels to do so at their own peril. I will personally deal with rogue elements within the security sector and ensure that they are dealt with according to the law,” said Machakos County Commissioner Fredrick Ndunga.

Several officers are already under investigation after it was established that they have been evicting rightful land owners and threatening them.

“All land parcels must be returned to their legal owners,we will do that with my team at the county and sub county level. People must be ready to present their ownership document otherwise we will not entertain sideshows. ”

Cases of double allotment and duplicated title deeds have been reported in the area.

Already a case is in court to address the mater with residents who faced eviction and their homes destroyed is on going.

The court has since directed the status quo to be maintained pending a determination of the matter.

Ngelani Land Community Chairman Jackson Kavisu who spoke to Shahidi News said that they have already received a conservative order from the court.

“A whole community is leaving here, we have built houses, schools, churches and mosques. This is our land. In fact, it is community land. We want to tell those here, we are ready to abide by the county commissioners directive as we wait for court directive,” he said.

Eviction and destruction of homes has also been halted by the county commissioner.

Residents also expressed frustrations following recent events of forceful evictions.

“Finally the issue is being addressed, why are police officers beating and evicting us at night? My son was even arrested and he had done nothing,” a resident who sought anonymity told Shahidi News.