3,600 squatters face eviction from Skov farm land

The fate of more than 3,600 squatters living in the controversial Skov farm in Tipis, Mau Narok now hangs in the balance after the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) disowned them Wednesday saying it was not aware of their existence on the land.

ADC board chairman Musa Sirma said the corporation did not recognize the squatters who now claim to have lived on the land for the past 47 years.

Sirma, who toured the land on Wednesday, said he was not aware who brought them there and as such they should prepare to leave anytime they are required to do so.

Sirma, who was accompanied by ADC officers and National Land Commission (NLC) representative in Nakuru Frank Kiberekenya, further alluded that the corporation could not allow the squatters to settle on a piece of land reserved for agricultural purposes.

On his part, Kiberekenya warned the squatters against encroaching on the land saying that the National Land Commission will continue to protect public land.

The NLC official further indicated that Skov farm has never been allocated to individuals.

Kiberekenya called on the squatters to either vacate or await the determination of a case they filed in court in relation to the ownership of the land.

According to the squatters, the land in contention was leased to Skov Limited in 1968 and the leasehold expired in 1982 after which the management of Skov Limited decided to allocate it to private individuals.

ADC, however, says it has all the documentation relating to the land.