Ngong residents plead with Ruto to end Keekonyokie land standoff ahead of Kajiado visit

Residents say cartels have for years terrorised them and forcefully evicted families from the land, at times invoking the president's name to intimidate them.

For more than a decade, efforts by community members to have the land subdivided into individual title deeds have been frustrated by known and unknown cartels, who residents allege have used the courts to stall the process.

They say the prolonged standoff has left them living in fear amid persistent intimidation and insecurity.

The disputed land, considered prime property, measures approximately 2,800 acres and is situated in Ngong.

The appeal comes a day after Ruto, speaking in Oloitoktok, Kajiado South, on Wednesday, pledged to address historical land injustices in the region.

The president is expected to visit several development projects across Kajiado County as part of a wider tour to meet residents, with Kibiko among the areas on his itinerary.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, area resident Simon Mpaake said the community has endured harassment on the land for years.

"We are pleading with the president to come and help us. We have been treated harshly on this land, beaten by security officers like animals. We are appealing to him that when he comes tomorrow, he helps us get rid of these cartels," Mpaake said.

"We have lived here for over 30 years, and we don't understand why our own people are being mistreated on their land. We don't know where else to go."

Another resident, Peter Kiplonga, said the community has identified individuals behind the alleged land-grabbing attempts.

"We welcome the president to Kibiko. We want justice over this land. There are people we know who want to take this land from us, people who live in Nairobi. We know who they are," Kiplonga said. "We want the president to know this and help us before it's too late."

Resident Simon Serpepi echoed the calls, saying the community has stood firmly behind the president despite the ongoing threats.