This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
Rehema Jaldesa, the Isiolo Woman Representative, has issued a stern warning to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) against attempting to evict residents from a piece of land they claim belongs to them.
According to Rehema, the land in question is part of the Elsa Ntirim area, where residents have been living for generations. She has asked them to defy the 30-day eviction notice issued by KDF, accusing the military of forcefully taking over land that does not belong to them.
Rehema pointed out that Isiolo County has previously donated land to the military for the establishment of the School of Infantry (SOI), School of Artillery (SOA), and the 78th Tank Battalion (Isiolo Barracks). However, she claims that the military is now threatening to take over land that was never intended for their use.
Rehema has vowed to protect the residents' ancestral land at all costs, vowing not to succumb to intimidation or threats.
On the other hand, Isiolo Assistant County Commissioner Julius Marwa has maintained that they are under firm instructions to implement the forceful eviction of people living in the said piece of land following an eviction notice from the Principal Secretary Department of Defence.
Marwa has urged those with genuine land ownership documents to register their complaints with the County Commissioner's office, while also requesting those residing in the disputed area to willingly adhere to the instructions and vacate the land to avoid a confrontation.
He noted that the continued occupation of the land had severely affected training activities for the soldiers, while also posing danger to members of the public due to the ammunition and explosives used by the soldiers in training.
At least 30,000 people are affected by the new development, with six public primary and two secondary schools also within the area being claimed by the military.
