Eviction Threats, Fraud Claims Spark Tensions in West Pokot’s Orwa Ranch
Tensions are brewing in the sprawling 13,000-hectare Orwa Ranch as long-time residents face eviction threats amidst claims of a fraudulent land adjudication process. Members of the Orwa Ranch community have taken to demonstrations, demanding justice and clarity over land ownership, which has become a flashpoint in West Pokot County.
Vipasho News traveled across rugged terrain to meet locals living on the embattled land, where eviction notices and boundary disputes have become the norm. Among the affected is Gladys, a resident since 2019, who now operates a posho mill. Despite her efforts to establish her life in the area, she remains fearful of eviction. “Unknown individuals have served me with notices, claiming I’m on their land,” Gladys told Vipasho News. Her pit latrine project remains unfinished as the looming threat of displacement haunts her daily life.
Not far from Gladys, Mzee, another local shop owner, shared his struggles in maintaining peace as tensions flare. The community claims that over 1,000 individuals, allegedly supported by local officials, have flooded the ranch, intensifying disputes. The root cause? A fraudulent land adjudication process that dates back to the ranch’s declaration as an adjudication section between 1978 and 1981.
Initially, Orwa Ranch recorded 345 members. Now, with 1,343 people claiming ownership, land conflicts have spilled into neighboring trust lands like Katikomor and Kanyarkwat, sparking unrest. A major point of contention is the disbursement of KSH 34 million in compensation by KETRACO for power lines passing through the ranch. Residents allege that these funds went to fraudulent beneficiaries, leaving them with nothing.
Backed by the Center for Human Rights and Democracy, the Orwa Ranch community has filed a petition to Senator Julius Murgor, seeking answers and justice. A 2020 letter from the National Police warned against the subdivision of Orwa Ranch for security reasons, but officials ignored the advice, further fueling the crisis. “The adjudication office has misled us, and officials from the Ministry of Lands continue to violate their own procedures,” claimed a local elder.
Attempts to seek comment from the West Pokot County Commissioner were met with silence, though he promised to respond formally. Meanwhile, Esther Chelimo, the County Executive for Lands, acknowledged hearing the concerns but said no formal complaints had reached her office.
As the land saga drags on, Gladys and her fellow ranch members continue to wait for justice, hoping for a resolution that will allow them to live and work in peace.
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