Embu — Governor Cecily Mbarire has given assurances to the thousands of squatters residing in the contentious 44,000-acre Mwea Settlement Scheme located in Mbeere South Sub-county, stating that no evictions will occur.
According to Kenya News Agency, her government is committed to resolving the long-standing dispute over the land’s ownership, which several communities including Embu, Mbeere, Kikuyu, and Kamba claim. She emphasized the right of those who have lived on the land for decades to continue doing so.
The process of subdividing and titling the land was halted by the government in 2018 following outbreaks of violence that resulted in one death and injuries to multiple individuals. Mbarire declared that individuals who have been residing in the area for extended periods will be prioritized in future land allocations. She also said a joint committee comprising representatives from both national and county governments has been established to resolve the issue.
The Governor voiced concern over powerful individuals allocating themselves large tracts of land at the expense of longtime residents. This comes two weeks after the Ngome Council of Elders, who are among the claimants to the land, issued a 60-day ultimatum to the government for resolution, asserting that they held title deeds for specific portions of the land. This claim has been met with resistance from squatters, who assert that all existing titles were nullified in the wake of ongoing conflicts.
A February 2020 ruling by the Environment and Land Court nullified 9,233 titles and ordered a fresh process for subdivision and allocation, supervised by the office of the County Commissioner. This decision was made in response to a petition filed by members of the Ngome Council of Elders against multiple parties including the Ministry of Lands, the Attorney General, Embu County Government, and the National Land Commission, along with some 320 beneficiaries.
The dispute over the Mwea Settlement Scheme has been politically exploited for years, frequently becoming a focal point during electoral campaigns as candidates promise to find a lasting solution.