A section of residents living near the Chaka–Nyaribo road in Nyeri County have voiced growing frustration over what they describe as an ongoing dispute involving the fencing of a public space (reportedly a road reserve) by a prominent individual who is known to hold a senior position in government.
According to community members, the contested land, traditionally used as open space for livestock grazing by small-scale farmers and quarry workers, has been enclosed with barbed wire, triggering claims of restricted access and arbitrary penalties for alleged trespassing by animals.
Locals say the situation has caused mounting tension in the area, with some likening the actions to the creation of a private toll zone.
Though the full legal status of the land remains unclear, what has especially aggrieved residents is what they perceive as the lack of due process and consultation, particularly given the socioeconomic profile of the surrounding community.
It is claimed that livestock found within the enclosed area are routinely impounded, with associated fines reportedly levied, a practice that residents argue disproportionately affects low-income households and reflects an imbalance of power.
The situation has sparked calls for clarification from relevant land authorities, with residents urging government offices to confirm whether the enclosure was sanctioned through formal planning or allocation procedures.
Many are questioning how such a development could occur on what is perceived to be public land and are calling for greater transparency around land use decisions that affect community access and livelihoods.
Below is what one concerned resident shared, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“Hello Cyprian. Thank you for the exposés you do. Kindly conceal my identity. There is this woman called Carol Karugu PS, who has grabbed road reserve and fenced it with a normal barbed wire next to Chaka–Nyaribo road. When the goats and sheep for peasants and quarry laborers are grazing and one or two trespass the land, they are confiscated and charged Ksh 500 per day promptly. She has done this all the time with no mercy but with impunity and theft. It’s actually a toll station. It has aggrieved the community. So if a farmer has 30 goats trespassing, that’s Ksh 60,000. Kindly address this issue for us. Thank you.”
