Masaai community urges Ruto to intervene over SGR land row

More than 300 members of the Masaai community have appealed to President William Ruto to intervene in a land dispute in Embakasi, Nairobi.

Through their lawyer Thomas Letangule, the group is demanding 38 acres of land taken over by government without being compensated. 

They argued that they were allocated 95 acres of land which was later on taken over by Kenya Railways Corporation for construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) .

"A total of Sh2.7 billion was paid as compensation but they never received a single coin. The money paid went to other people and their cronies," claimed Letangule.

The aggrieved residents on Monday appeared before Million Law Courts where they presented a petition seeking intervention to reclaim their land which is located along the SGR and near the Nairobi National park.

They have also written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations requesting for investigations and arrest of individuals whom they claim took their compensation money. 

Letangule told a press briefing outside the court that initially they had filed a petition before the High Court but were persuaded by Lands Principal Secretary Nickson Korir to withdraw the case after he assured them he would intervene and help resolve the land dispute.

"To date no action has been taken and my clients are yet to be paid their dues in terms of compensation. They are disappointed, and are seeking justice," he said claiming that the lawyer who initially represented his clients was paid the Sh2.7 billion, which never reached the displaced land owners.