Hundreds of residents in Cheptebes village, Marishoni ward, Molo subcounty, were left without shelter on Wednesday after a large deployment of police officers demolished 51 houses and set others ablaze in an operation tied to a long-running land dispute.
Residents scrambled for their belongings as heavily armed officers moved through the village, tearing down structures and destroying property.
By evening, officers in land rovers were patrolling the area, blocking locals from returning to the land.
What Residents Said About the Operation
Village elder Richard Kelong told journalists that the land was originally allocated to community members during the presidency of the late Daniel arap Moi, and that residents have spent years defending their claim in court.
He said officers arrived in the morning and attempted to present a court ruling but refused to engage with residents who sought answers about who had authorised the exercise.
“Some of the residents have lost their properties massively, some even crucial documents because of the inhuman act of the officers. When we tried to ask who sent them, they only said they were ordered from above,” Kelong said.
Resident Bethwel Marinday, whose house was among those destroyed, said officers smashed his household items before setting his home on fire. Speaking in tears, he described his helplessness at an advanced age.
“These officers have tormented me, my age has advanced and I have nowhere to even put my head today. I even pleaded with them to allow me even one month to try to find somewhere else to seek refuge but they never listened. You know I don’t have my agemates here so I don’t know who will host me tonight,” he said.
Richard Soi recounted being handcuffed at around 6am and bundled into a land rover, then driven some distance before being dropped off.
When he walked back to his home, he found it completely razed. He said the clothes he had on were all that remained of his possessions.
Elderly Woman Holds Title Deed as Proof
Elderly resident Esther Cherono Mosonik lost two houses along with poultry kept on her property.
Mosonik produced a title deed and pointed to a 2024 declaration issued by Molo law courts, in which she was recognised as the rightful owner of the land in a case filed against one Josiah Nyachoti, also known as Momanyi.
Locals blamed the local administration for exploiting the land conflict to harass residents, saying the operation was carried out without adequate regard for the court proceedings that had previously favoured some of the affected families.
