Tension erupts in Transmara as police move to evict residents from disputed Imbolot land

Tension has once again gripped residents of Imbolot in Transmara South, Narok, after truckloads of police officers arrived in the area to evict locals and pave the way for new land buyers to fence off a 400-acre farm bordering the Mara Game Reserve.

The arrival of the officers is likely to pit the police against hundreds of youth who have been camping in the thicket for more than a year to protect the land from those individuals they describe as grabbers. 

For the past eight months, youth from Keringani in Imbolot have been living inside the thick forests, armed with traditional weapons to guard what they insist is their ancestral land.

But on Thursday morning, five trucks loaded with police and anti-riot officers arrived to provide security to the said buyers of the controversial land, as perimeter fencing is set to begin.

The residents, who had been standing guard day and night, were forced to withdraw quietly to avoid violence. However, they maintained, “Hii shamba ni letu, ata kama leo tumeamua kutoleta vita na hawa maaskari, shamba hili ni la babu zetu… na hata hivyo bado tutazidi kupambana kisheria," said Imbolot resident Julius Kirtasho.

With etched faces full of anger, locals vowed they would not give up their struggle.

Transmara South Police Commander Erick Telewa defended the operation, saying officers were deployed to maintain order as the new buyer moved in to fence the land.

“We came here after the buyer requested to fence this land. Our role as police is to ensure peace is maintained," stated Talewa.

“Sisi tulijua kuwa kuna dialogue na hatukutarajia kuwa tungeletewa maaskari kama hawa...” another resident Joshua Partumai noted.

Peter Nkilapus, added, "Sisi kama community tumenyanyaswa sana. Tumekuwa hapa kwa miezi nane na sheria inasema ukishaishi mahali for six months hapo ni kama yako.”

With tensions still simmering, it remains unclear when or how the Imbolot land dispute will finally be resolved.