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Saboti: 3,000 Forest Evictees Threaten to Return to 10,000-Acre Land After Long Wait for Justice

Displaced residents from Makunga Forest in Saboti Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, have issued a warning that they will return to the forest unless the Kenyan government addresses their demands for resettlement or 

The evictees led by Francis Kotii, the chairperson of the Kokwoo Cooperative Society, claimed ownership of over 10,000 acres of land.

Kotii firmly insisted that the community had legally purchased the land from the government before being forcefully removed between 2007 and 2008.

"We've endured nearly two decades of hardship and cannot continue to live like this. We’ve reached a breaking point and plan to reclaim our land. Many of us sacrificed everything, selling property to secure it," said Kotii.

Representing the women affected, Roseline Kimoi Chesumbai emotionally described their plight.

"Our children remain uneducated because we can't afford school fees. We’re exhausted from constantly paying rent. The only option left is to return to what we believe is rightfully ours," Chesumbai expressed.

Former Saboti ward MCA David Kapoloman and former Endebess ward’s Patrick Kisiero criticized the process through which the land was gazetted, arguing that it bypassed proper legal procedures.

"There was a calculated scheme to dispossess our people. We've approached every relevant land office, and the consistent response has been that the land is indeed ours," Kapoloman asserted.

Kisiero added that the matter had previously been raised in the National Assembly—first by Mt. Elgon MP Fred Kapondi in 2009 and again by Endebess MP Robert Pukose in 2016.

"This land has three groups of claimants: natives who were born here, former employees of colonial settlers between 1963 and 1971, and forest workers who were brought in to plant and manage trees. Each group believes it holds a legitimate claim to the land," Kisiero explained.

The members of over 3,000 households through their elected leaders, Robert Pukose (Endebess) Fred Kapondi (Mt. Elgon) Lilian Siyoi (Trans Nzoia County MP) and Senator Allan Chesang' called on President William Ruto to give them a lasting solution.

"We appeal to President Ruto to come and provide aid, as we have suffered greatly in our quest for justice for more than 18 years," said Mr. Isaac Matekoi.

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