A section of residents in Nyeri were left shocked after being stopped by police from grabbing a piece of land owned by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).
Police who chased away the residents noted that they had claimed that Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua had vowed to settle them there once William Ruto was elected.
The group is said to have invaded the land hours after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced the official presidential results.
They shouted and chanted “Freedom is coming” as they attempted to force their way into the land.
Police however rushed to control the situation as they warned the individuals that lawlessness will not be entertained.
“It is true some people tried to invade the railway reserve. When people were celebrating after the declaration of winners, we didn’t know they were celebrating about invading the land. But they are forgetting that there is a government in place and the land does not belong to anybody but is government property,” Mathira East-Sub-county commander stated.
“Even if it was private property, there is a legal way to go about it and if they want to conduct business there, let them approach Kenya Railways and have a lease agreement. You don’t wake up one morning and take other people’s property and we will not allow this to happen.”
Upon the arrival of the police, the group which is said to be of about 100 people fled as they shouted “We will return once our president is sworn in.”
Nyeri invaders vow to return
One of the invaders who spoke to a local publication disclosed that their actions were simply a response to Gachagua’s promises during campaigns.
In their words, they stated that the former legislator had vowed to settle them in once Ruto was elected president.
“We have not broken any law. Mr Gachagua assured us that once they formed the government, this issue would be revisited. Now that they have won, I hope he will keep that promise,” he stated.
