Court bars Kibwana from settling 600 squatters on Nguu Ranch
Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana and senior lands officers have been stopped from evicting over 1,500 residents of Nguu Ranch in order to settle squatters.
While issuing the orders, Makueni High Court judge Charles Mbogo said the squatters had no claim over the land which they have been issued titles by the government.
“I find merit in the petitioner’s application. I hereby issue conservatory orders in favour of the petitioners pending the hearing and determination of the case,” ruled Justice Mbogo.
The court also stopped the government, its agents and employees from entering and trespassing into the property to settle squatters.
“It is, therefore, the petitioner’s conviction that should this court fail to intervene, not only will their proprietary rights be infringed, but they will also suffer irreparable loss and damage,” the judge noted.
He also stopped the government from issuing title deeds and settling the over 600 squatters at the Nguu Ranch pending determination of a suit filed by aggrieved petitioners.
Justice Mbogo ruled that a suit filed by lawyer Nzioki Muthini for over 60 petitioners had established there were glaring irregularities identified in the settling of the squatters whose genuineness had been questioned.
The petitioners accuse Kibwana and government officials of bringing people who were not originally meant to benefit from the Nguu Ranch and issuing them title deeds.
The judge noted that some squatters had descended on land occupied by persons who claim to have been living on it since 1965.
Areas where squatters have invaded include Manooni, Mulima Dam and Katelembo within Nguu Ranch.
The over 40,000-acre land on which the squatters are being settled is occupied by over 1,500 people.
Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana and senior lands officers have been stopped from evicting over 1,500 residents of Nguu Ranch in order to settle squatters.
While issuing the orders, Makueni High Court judge Charles Mbogo said the squatters had no claim over the land which they have been issued titles by the government.
“I find merit in the petitioner’s application. I hereby issue conservatory orders in favour of the petitioners pending the hearing and determination of the case,” ruled Justice Mbogo.
The court also stopped the government, its agents and employees from entering and trespassing into the property to settle squatters.
“It is, therefore, the petitioner’s conviction that should this court fail to intervene, not only will their proprietary rights be infringed, but they will also suffer irreparable loss and damage,” the judge noted.
He also stopped the government from issuing title deeds and settling the over 600 squatters at the Nguu Ranch pending determination of a suit filed by aggrieved petitioners.
Justice Mbogo ruled that a suit filed by lawyer Nzioki Muthini for over 60 petitioners had established there were glaring irregularities identified in the settling of the squatters whose genuineness had been questioned.
The petitioners accuse Kibwana and government officials of bringing people who were not originally meant to benefit from the Nguu Ranch and issuing them title deeds.
The judge noted that some squatters had descended on land occupied by persons who claim to have been living on it since 1965.
Areas where squatters have invaded include Manooni, Mulima Dam and Katelembo within Nguu Ranch.
The over 40,000-acre land on which the squatters are being settled is occupied by over 1,500 people.
