The National Land Commission (NLC) has ruled that a Sh12 billion forest in Kiambu County should be degazetted, allowing 419 acres to be distributed among long-term occupants. The decision ends a 23-year legal and administrative battle between the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and squatters who claim historical rights to the land.
The disputed area, known as Kamiti/Anmer, became a focal point in the 1990s when retired President Daniel arap Moi allegedly directed the Lands ministry to allocate the land to local residents. Squatter groups, including the Kamiti Anmer Development Association, argue they received formal allotment letters and that the land was never officially de-gazetted. KFS disputes these claims, maintaining the area remains a protected forest.
A 2015 NLC inspection of the site found evidence supporting the squatters' assertions. The commission ordered the land to be partially redistributed but urged parties to resolve remaining conflicts through mediation. This follows a 2018 court ruling that temporarily barred KFS from evicting occupants while the case proceeds.
Squatter representatives allege that during Moi's 1994 visit to Kiambu, officials including then-Environment Minister John Sambu and Lands Minister Jackson Mulinge were tasked with implementing the land allocation. Some beneficiaries reportedly received title deeds before the process was halted. A 1994 allocation involved 1,400 individuals from across Kiambu, with community projects like a school and water infrastructure developed on the land.
The National Assembly Committee on Lands visited the site in November 2018 after a petition from squatter groups. The NLC's latest decision marks a significant legal victory for occupants, though tensions persist over finalizing land titles and resolving competing claims from multiple associations.
