Two shot dead in Ruiru land dispute

Two people died while 10 others were seriously injured on Thursday in a fight over land in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The incident occurred at Twiga Estate, owned by Mbo-I-Kamiti Company, as settlers clashed with police officers who sought to evict them.

Those injured included four police officers.

Tension remained high in the area after the settlers repulsed about 100 officers who had descended on the 1,200-acre land to evict them.

Gatundu police boss Peter Kattam was among those injured. He was shot in the armpit with an arrow and treated at the Thika Nursing Home, along with three junior officers.

Operation

One of the officers, who had an arrow lodged in his left leg, was taken to a theatre for an operation. The rest, including Mr Kattam, were later discharged.

Of the six injured civilians, three were taken to the Plains View Nursing Home in Ruiru, where two were admitted and another transferred to the Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment. Those who died are Mr Zachariah Gakuo, 30, and Mr Mwangi Kibe, 25.

Ruiru police boss David Kirui said the officers were executing a court order when they met resistance from youths armed with arrows, slings and stones.

“On reaching a bridge next to the farm, the youths started pelting police officers with stones and throwing arrows at them. They were so violent that the officers were left with no alternative but to open fire in self-defence,” he said.
Mr Kirui spoke after chairing a meeting with other police bosses and CID officers from Thika, Kiambu and Gatundu.

He said the youths also tried to burn the trucks that were used to ferry the officers to the scene.

Speaking from his hospital bed, one of the injured residents, Mr Robert Karanja, said he was leaving for his place of work at 6.30am when he heard gunshots.

“The police were shooting at us non-stop using live bullets and I was hit in the leg as we scampered for safety,” said Mr Karanja.

Earlier, Mr Kirui showed journalists a High Court order signed by Mr Justice Majanja on December 3 ordering the eviction of the squatters.

However, the resident’s leader, Ms Salome Mwihaki, said her group had not received any eviction notice or court order. She said the eviction team went to the area around 4.30am while some villagers were asleep.

Ms Mwihaki’s group has been entangled in a tussle with the Mbo-I-Kamuiti management over ownership of the land, which the squatters claim was given to them by a white settler in 1965.