KDF grabbed our land, Isiolo residents claim

Over 500 residents from Burat Ward in Isiolo County on Wednesday took to the streets to protest the alleged intrusion of their land by the Kenya Defense force (KDF).

According to the protestors, the controversial land was initially offered to their community in 1972 during President Jomo Kenyatta’s regime and later placed under the management of the Livestock Marketing Department (LMD), who were to build modern slaughterhouse on it.

“The Kenya Defense Force had requested for 100 hectares of land to set up the infantry school in Isiolo in the year 1980, of which the community agreed to offer about 10,000 acres,” Burat Community Chairlady Kuresha Bille emphasized.

The residents led by the Nominated MCA Elizabeth Maitima in conjunction with their chairlady accused the army of contradicting their agreement by fencing off the area, destroying their crops and preventing them from building permanent structures on the disputed land.

The protestors also alleged that the Kenya Defense Force has been harassing them for years, grabbing more land from them.

In their petition that was presented to Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya, the residents said their lives have equally been endangered following remnants of explosives that have been left on the land.

“The police say my husband accidentally fell on a piece of metal and died while we all know I lost my husband to KDF explosive remnants,” said Anna Nyaruai, a Burat resident.

Mr Natembeya blamed the defense force for not maintaining a good relationship with the public.

“The army is a government institution authorized to protect the ‘mwananchi’. They should strive to maintain a healthy relationship with its public in all ways possible,” he said.

He promised to forward the petition to Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery promptly. He also assured the residents of feedback in two weeks time.

The controversial land has a river flowing through the defense force camp. Water from the river is used in farms that are key suppliers of food for Isiolo town.
Written by Lucy Akinyi