Kirima land saga: Confusion as squatters served with two conflicting letters

Residents occupying over the 1,000-acre estate of the late tycoon Gerishon Kirima are grappling with confusion and anxiety with impending evictions looming.

While some have received offer letters with conditions they are yet to meet, disputes over the purchase price persist.

They term the amounts they have been asked to pay as way too high.

Their fate and only hope rests with the Environment and Lands Court which is expected to give a determination on their petition on the 23rd of this month.

Following the court verdict issued in October last year that the land in the areas of Njiru and Chokaa legally belongs to the family of the late Kirima, meetings among the residents have become routine.

The residents who had a tense Christmas period are in a state of confusion and anxiety after they were served with two contradictory letters by the lawyers representing the two administrators of the land; Teresia Wairimu Kirima, the wife to the late Kirima and Anne Kirima, the daughter of the late Kirima.

“Hatujui ni barua gani tutafuata…sisi sasa tumechanganyikiwa,” Ken Onyango, the Chairperson of the residents’ association said.

A letter dated December 15, 2023 written to the lawyer representing the residents by Onduso and Company Advocates representing Teresia Wairimu said: “We confirm that our client has no intention of carrying out the eviction of your clients while the expressions of interest reduced in writing are still under consideration.”

However, a subsequent letter dated December 18, 2023 written by Kaplan and Stratton Advocates who represent Anne Kirima stated that the letter could have given an inaccurate impression to the residents.

The letter further states that “the true position is that the court order made on October 23, 2023 remains in place. If any occupier of land will not have entered into an agreement with the estate of G.K. Kirima which allows them to remain on the land, they will have to move by December 31 2023. If they fail to do so then they may have to face demolition.”

“Kile kiko hapa ni confusion…the positions of the family are contradictory,” Luke Maina said.

A number of occupants have been given offer letters and strict conditions to make purchases of their respective parcels of land.

They have however termed the amounts due as way above the current land value in the area.

“Tulifanya valuation na valuer wetu akasema ziko below Ksh.1 million,” Rhobi Maina said, adding; “Iko juu sana tukiwa kama wamama hatuna uwezo…wengine wetu ni single mum.”

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on his part said: “There is nobody in his right sense of mind that can value the piece of land at Ksh.2.1 million when it should be at around Ksh.500,000-750,000.”