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Over 1700 families displaced from Kenya Railways land between Soy and Moi’s Bridge in Likuyani Sub County have requested the government to reconsider their situation and arrange for their resettlement.
The Squatters comprising 1775 families and led by their chairman David Shikami, have expressed their dissatisfaction with their situation since their 2021 eviction and are requesting the government to provide them with alternative land.
Addressing the press after a meeting in Moi’s Bridge, Shikami regretted that the railways management disregarded a 2004 court ruling that granted them an okay to live in the land till the government resettles them elsewhere.The individual expressed their dire living situation since their 2021 eviction, citing the demolition of their homes and the lack of government assistance in finding alternative land.
“Our children are suffering and some have ended up as street children while others are now engaged in prostitution to earn a living. “We want the government to show us an alternative piece of land so that we can also engage in income generating activities just like any other Kenyan. Let the government de-gazette Turbo Forest land and settle us there.”
Shikami blasted local leaders for abandoning them after winning elections despite promising to resolve their resettlement issue once elected. “We are Kenyans. We have national identity cards and we participate in elections. During the campaign period the politicians kept following us up to our houses. However, after voting for them they disappeared and switched off their phones,” he stated.
Another Squatter Joseph Biketi stated that they have never known any other home other than the railways’ land where they have lived since independence. He said they were evicted despite an existing court ruling giving them permission to stay in the land till an alternative place was provided.
Angeline Masika a squatter speaks after a meeting in Likuyani Sub County
Biketi successfully challenged a 2004 notice to vacate railway land in court, stating they would remain until they were given a clear direction on their settlement. “However, since then no government reconsidered our plight until 2021 when we were issued with a one day notice to vacate the land. Our houses were demolished despite most families having no place to go.”
He revealed that the squatters petitioned the government sometime back and in response they were told to identify an alternative piece of land for resettlement, only for the plan to backfire after they identified Turbo forest land.The speaker was instructed to disregard the Turbo Forest land, which belonged to East African Tanning Extract Company Limited, which was divided into two parts.
“The one in Uasin Gishu was given out to squatters from the area yet the one in Kakamega was turned into a government forest. This is total discrimination. Let the government treat all Kenyans equally and give us part of the forest land,”.Biketi said that since 2021 their families especially children have suffered a lot with them being blamed for every evil deed happening in Likuyani. He said they are now forced to rent houses with their families and do manual jobs to fend for themselves.
For instance, two elderly widows, Angeline Masika and Lucia Osoro appealed to the government to come to their rescue for the sake of their future generations. They said their children have been forced to drop out of school in order to do menial jobs to fend for the families.
“We are now being called witches because we don’t have a place to call home. I lost my husband and we were forced to bury him just on a river bank because there was no place to take him. Thus, “Since then my children have been bothering me seeking to know where they will bury me when I die. Osoro said.
She appealed to the government to resettle them, noting that it is shameful for them to live in rental houses with their children.