Mavoko: Landowner kicks out hundreds of squatters who lived on

At Least 30 families in Syokimau in Mavoko Sub County face forceful eviction over land ownership dispute pitting them against a private developer.

The squatters , who are pastoralists, claim ownership through adverse possession by the virtue of living in the land since 1993.

The land claimant however has the land ownership documents.

The Adverse land possession in Kenya land says that a trespasser can claim land if he or she has settled in for more than 12 years.

The bone of contention among the two warring parties have been claims by the squatters the land claimant identified as Salah Ahmed Sheik ownership documents required verifications.

Agitated squatters on Thursday stopped erection of a perimeter wall at the one acre piece of land they have been squatting prompting police to act swiftly to avert commotion.

The two warring groups were summoned at the Mavoko SNP police station and directed to produce their documents.

In an arbitration meeting led by SNP Mavoko deputy police commander Peter Limo, Salah produced ownership and supporting documents to the chagrin of squatters who had no land ownership legal documents.

Mr Limo urged the squatters to instead seek court redress on the matter saying the developer will be protected to develop his property.

The squatters claim ownership through adverse possession by the virtue of living in the land since 1993

He also reassured both party’s of their security saying nobody will be victimized whatsoever further warning those involved against taking law into their hands or any breach of security.

The police commander further directed that during the resolution meeting the squatters did not present any supporting evidence as to why land claimant construction should be stopped.

Land disputes are rampant in Athi-river Mavoko owing to expansive undeveloped chunks of land.