The long-running Kilimambogo land dispute involving more than 2,000 squatters is expected to be resolved within two months after the Thika Environment and Land Court concluded hearing proceedings, signaling a possible end to one of the region’s most divisive land rows.
Presiding Judge Lady Justice Anne Mogeni announced that judgment will be delivered after a site visit scheduled for November 13, 2025, whose findings will form part of the final ruling.
“This case has taken too long. Nine years is a long wait for justice. We know there is anxiety, but I urge all parties to remain calm and maintain peace as we await the final decision,” she stated.
Justice Mogeni clarified that the site visit would not alter the outcome, as the case mainly seeks to determine rightful ownership of land allocated to squatters in 2017.
The case pits squatters dissatisfied with the 2017 allocation, carried out under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, against others who insist the process was fair and legally executed.
During the hearings, witnesses including former Thika East Deputy County Commissioner Thomas Sankei, government officials, surveyors, and several squatters testified that the land adjudication process was conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.
However, petitioners led by Paul Kimenyi and others argued that genuine squatters were left out of the allocations, while non-residents received large parcels of land. They called for the court to nullify the subdivision and order a fresh process, citing security and settlement challenges caused by disputed allocations.
The court also heard that some individuals pushing for new allocations had already benefited from the first exercise but later sold their plots and refused to vacate, leading to renewed tensions and confusion in the area.
The disputed land remains largely undeveloped, with residents lamenting the lack of infrastructure and basic services caused by the prolonged stalemate.
As the community awaits the court’s final decision, many hope the ruling will bring lasting peace, legal clarity, and development to the Kilimambogo area.
– By Muoki Charles
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