Squatters in Mark Too land controversy in thanksgiving prayers

Sirikwa squatters held thanksgiving prayers in a 25,000-acre piece of land at Kapseret, just a day after the Eldoret High Court ruled that the land title be revoked and given back to them, as it was acquired unconstitutionally.

The squatters, who have had the case suit for the past 10 years, told of the encounters in a bid to seek the land back, which they claim to have been gifted to them in 1988 by retired President Daniel Arap Moi.

According to the more than 1,000 squatters, the late Kenya African National Union (KANU) politician, Mark Too, had grabbed the land from them and divided it to smaller units and sold part of it.

The ruling made by Lands and Environment Court Judge, Antony Ombwayo, ordered the government’s responsible to issue the squatters with rightful title deeds for the land.

Addressing the press outside court buildings, lawyer William Arusei, who represented the squatters, said that indeed justice had been granted to the victims.

Earlier this year, Arusei’s clients had moved to court to block Too’s burial to until matters of the land had been resolved by having the land allocated back to them. The entombment was to take place on a land near Eldoret International Airport.

However, family to the late politician were allowed to retain 27 hectares of land which stands as Too’s home.

Written by Ann Mukuru