Buyers of controversial Karen land vow to stay put

Some of the people claiming ownership of the controversial Karen land recording details of buyers on Saturday October 25, 2014. They have vowed to camp on the land until the High Court allows them to continue with construction. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • More than 40 individuals who had purchased the land said that they had been camping on their parcels since the High Court stopped construction.
  • The individuals have pitched a tent and created a cooking place.
  • Police officers from Karen Police Station arrived at the site at noon and went around it before leaving.
  • The 134-acre property is the subject of a case in which a company is fighting three others in an ownership dispute.

Buyers of the controversial Karen land have vowed not to move from the area until the High Court allows them to continue with construction.

Saturday, more than 40 individuals who had purchased the land said that they had been camping on their parcels since the High Court issued an order compelling them to stop construction.

“We stay here throughout the day and sleep together on the land and in our cars during the nights,” one of the owners said.

The individuals have pitched a tent and created a cooking place.

On Saturday, they had bought two goats which they slaughtered and shared.

“This is just to show the government that we are here to stay.

We are not going anywhere, because we have valid title deeds” they said.

Police officers from Karen Police Station arrived at the site at noon and went around it before leaving.

The 134-acre property is the subject of a case in which a company is fighting three others in an ownership dispute.

More than 50 individuals and companies are said to have purchased pieces of the land from Telesource Company.

The piece of land is at the centre of a legal battle pitting Mr Da Gama Rose and his firm Muchanga Investments Ltd against Habenga Holdings, Jina Enterprises Ltd and Telesource Company Ltd.