More than 500 residents of Oljorai Scheme in Gilgil have staged demonstrations to protest against the move by Nakuru County ODM Chairman, Peter Ole Osono, to block the registration of squatters and subsequent allocation of land.

The irked protesters claim Osono filed a suit against the National Land Commission (NLC) after starting the resettlement process alleging that he has been selling portions of the controversial land to unsuspecting individuals.

Speaking during the protest, area MCA, Jane Simita, denounced Osono’s act saying that the squatters have suffered for more than 40 years and that it was high time for the commission to offer a lasting solution to their problem.

Simita also appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to decisively address the issue during the Madaraka Day Celebrations in Nakuru and ensure all squatters are resettled.

Oljorai residents have also termed Osono’s actions as a way of concealing his mischief out of fear that those who bought land from him will be on his case when the National Land Commission allots the same sections to squatters.

This comes barely two weeks after the National Land Commission embarked on profiling of squatters, sparking uproar from the Trusted Society Alliance of Human Rights and Ole Osono.

Original source

Themes
• Adverse possession
• Advocacy
• Farmers/Peasants
• Forced evictions
• International
• Land rights
• Norms and standards
• Public policies
• Security of tenure