An NGO asks President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop eviction of Njukini residents in Taita Taveta County

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Mombasa has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and stop the eviction of residents of Njukini location in Taita Taveta County. 

The NGO, Haki Yetu through its Executive Director Fr Gabriel Dolan said that as the President calls for nation to prayers,there is need to halt the evictions that have caused dear among those living in the disputed area.

“Please note that as the President calls the nation to prayers for three days that should be matched with good deeds. 

The President should  cancel the eviction threat. Besides that, he must also consider doing the following as acts of mercy to the people. 

First he should order for the reopening of the water points in the vast Gacheha estate and let the recently settled families access,” said Fr Dolan 

In his statement he said that for two years residents have been deprived of the water from River Tsavo. 

“Please, give more land to the community because at the moment the vast estate is occupied by wild animals yet there are people without land,” Fr Dolan said in the statement. 

The organization in the statement said it had been closely following developments in the Njukini area of Taita Taveta, in relation to land injustices.  

“Hundreds of families were evicted in 2018 from Gicheha farm, a land believed to be the property of the first family, and resettled in adjacent land, popularly known as Sir Ramson land. This became the Ziwani Settlement Scheme, Taveta Sub-county,” the statement further said. 

Fr Dolan said during the resettlement, some of the targeted beneficiaries were not allocated land. 

“A dispute and complaints committee established to look into their cases did not render actionable verdict, leaving the affected families with nowhere to settle except on rocky grounds and hilltops, where no one had been allocated land. It is these families, approximated at 76 that are the subject of the prevailing notices to vacate or face forceful evictions.  

He further says that during a recent public baraza conducted at Ziwani settlement scheme, the area Assistant County Commissioner, Chala/Njukini Division, said that the hills and rocky grounds where the families settled on belonged to Gicheha farm, and were not part of the Ziwani Settlement scheme, despite the hills being located within the perimeter of the settlement scheme and reiterated the need for the families to vacate the land, without offering an alternative.  

The organization has written to Taita Taveta county Commissioner asking for the cessation of the planned evictions until an alternative has been explore. 

The letter has also been copied to the regional commissioner.

The county government of Taita Taveta has equally written to the county commissioner demanding the planned evictions be halted until discussions have been had and alternatives explored.  

On 7th October, the county government also  called for the suspension of the evictions until both parties meet for discussion for an amicable solution. 

County Lands Executive Julius Mwandawiro Mghanga said the fear of evictions had caused a great worry among the residents and said it might cause untold crisis for both governments. 

The evictions are slotted for Monday next week. 

“While we respect private property, still it would have been better that the matter was discussed by both governments and the owners of the land to address the problem so as to take sustainable measures to avoid the impending crisis now and in the future. In this regard, I am requesting that the planned eviction, if indeed it is true, be suspended until we first meet with the owners of the land,” Mr Mwandawiro said in a letter seen by Uzalendo News.