This archive report was first published on 29 June 2021.
Published on June 29, 2021, a court order has been secured by Eldoret Express Limited to evict over 1,000 squatters at Tawai farm in Trans Nzoia County.
The firm, which had petitioned the court seeking enforcement of a Court of Appeal judgment dated November 28, 2019, declared the firm the legal owner of the 640-acre land.
According to the judgment, Justice Samuel Kibunja allowed the company's request for an order directing the Trans Nzoia County commissioner, the county commander, Kiminini sub-county officer commanding police division (OCPD), and the Kiminini Police Station boss (OCS) to accord Seventy-Seven Auctioneers police to maintain law, peace, and order during the execution of the eviction order.
During the hearing, the director of Eldoret Express, Joseph Ng'ang'a Thungu, stated that after winning the court battle, the firm instructed Seventy-Seven Auctioneers to carry out the evictions, but they would need police protection to avoid chaos and skirmishes that may endanger lives.
The judge noted that attempts by the squatters, through their land buying company Tawai Ltd, to have the eviction suspended had been rejected by the Supreme Court in March 2021 after the judges found there was no reason to allow a second appeal and that there was no significant question of law that requires the further input of the apex court.
