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Land Disputes in Upper and Lower Eastern Kenya Spark Security Concerns, Murkomen Warns

Land Disputes in Upper and Lower Eastern Kenya Spark Security Concerns, Murkomen Warns

High-Stakes Land Disputes Fuel Security Fears in Kenya’s Eastern Regions

If you thought land rows in Kenya were a thing of the past, think again. According to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, the fight over land titles, illegal grabs, and overlapping claims is heating up, especially in the semi-arid stretches of Upper and Lower Eastern Kenya. During visits to Tharaka Nithi and Kitui counties, Murkomen didn’t mince his words: unresolved land issues are no longer just a legal headache—they’re a full-blown security nightmare.

Take Kitui County for example. The situation there has gotten tense as farmers and herders spar over boundaries, triggering violent clashes that spill across villages. Land titling confusion means families that relied on their plots for decades suddenly find their claims challenged, sometimes by total strangers waving competing documents. And these aren’t rare cases—the jumbled land registry system has left open wounds all over the region.

But there’s another twist to the story: so-called “contracted squatters.” These aren’t typical squatters simply seeking shelter. Murkomen called out the practice of people being paid off to occupy private or public land, sometimes with a wink from politicians or even judges. Machakos, for instance, has seen public parks and public land quietly taken over by organized groups, turning land grabbing into a lucrative business rather than an act of desperation. This blend of organized crime and political backroom deals has made sorting out rightful ownership nearly impossible for local administrators without higher-level intervention.

The problem doesn’t stop with humans, either. Murkomen pointed to a rise in human-wildlife conflict, particularly around Kitui. As illegal herders push their livestock into protected reserves, they clash with locals, sometimes raiding homesteads and stealing cattle. The Kenya Wildlife Service has had to step in forcefully, increasing patrols and chasing off grazing groups that ignore conservation rules.

Government Cracks Down: Pushing for Documentation and Collaboration

Murkomen was clear: piecemeal responses aren’t going to work anymore. Evictions from grabbed public land are on the table, along with a full audit and proper titling of government property. He wants to see local chiefs, county administrators, and the National Police Service working as a unit—not just on land issues, but also against problems like illicit brewing that often go hand-in-hand with illegal settlements and lawlessness.

The CS also threw the spotlight on the long-awaited Okongo Taskforce report. It’s been gathering dust in Parliament, but for many communities, its recommendations are supposed to be the key to finally untangling decades of land messes. The Taskforce was set up to dive deep into these disputes and offer practical solutions—from better surveying and digital land records to clear arbitration protocols when rival claimants refuse to budge.

Boundary fights between counties are adding another layer of tension. The Kitui-Tana River border, for instance, is less of a line and more a battleground, with both sides staking claims over grazing routes and watering holes. Murkomen is now pushing MPs to step in and settle these disputes before they boil over into major resource conflicts.

There’s no silver bullet in sight, but Murkomen’s message was blunt: unless practical steps are taken—and fast—the cycle of land rows, violence, and insecurity will keep spinning in Eastern Kenya for years to come.

Jun 27, 2025
SIYABONGA SOKHELA
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19 Comments

cimberleigh pheasey
June 27, 2025 AT 18:52

This is such a mess, but honestly? Not surprising. I’ve seen how land gets weaponized in places like this-politicians, judges, and shady contractors all playing footsie while real people lose everything. It’s not just about titles, it’s about survival. And now wildlife’s getting dragged into it too? 😔
Alex Alevy
June 28, 2025 AT 01:42

The Okongo Taskforce report is the key here. It’s been sitting for years while people get kicked off land they’ve farmed since their grandparents’ time. Digital titling + community mediation = real solution. No more paper piles in dusty offices.
Tom Gin
June 28, 2025 AT 21:32

So let me get this straight... the government wants to evict squatters but won’t fix the registry? 😂 The real squatters are the ones in parliament holding the deeds.
Michael Klamm
June 29, 2025 AT 20:34

lol at the ‘contracted squatters’ thing. sounds like a bad reality show. who pays who again? 🤡
Aileen Amor
June 30, 2025 AT 12:09

This is heartbreaking!! People losing their homes over paperwork?!?!?! And wildlife getting shot at?!?!?! We need action NOW!!!
Danica Tamura
June 30, 2025 AT 13:54

Of course it’s a ‘security nightmare.’ When you let corruption fester, violence is the only thing that grows. But no one wants to touch it because the same people who stole the land are the ones writing the laws. Classic.
William H
July 1, 2025 AT 10:11

You think this is about land? Nah. It’s a distraction. The real agenda? Pushing foreign NGOs into Kenya under the guise of ‘land reform’ so they can control water rights and mineral zones. The Taskforce? A front. Watch.
christian lassen
July 2, 2025 AT 05:58

i read this and just thought… why dont they just use gps to map the land? like… its 2025. why is this still a paper problem?
Murray Hill
July 2, 2025 AT 22:00

Land isn’t just property here. It’s memory. It’s ancestors. It’s the ground your child was born on. When you take that, you don’t just take a plot-you take identity. And no amount of legal documents can bring that back.
Bruce Wallwin
July 2, 2025 AT 22:11

So… what? We’re supposed to believe the government will fix this? LOL. They’re the ones who created it.
Rachael Blandin de Chalain
July 3, 2025 AT 02:10

The structural failures in land governance are profound. The absence of a centralized, verifiable, and transparent titling system has enabled predatory behavior to flourish under the guise of customary rights. This is not merely a regional issue-it is a systemic governance deficit requiring institutional recalibration.
Soumya Dave
July 3, 2025 AT 23:28

I know this feels overwhelming but hear me out-this is a chance to rebuild something better! Imagine digital land registries that every villager can access on their phone, community mediation circles led by elders and youth together, and wildlife corridors protected by locals who get paid to guard them-not arrested for grazing. We’ve done this in other places! It’s not magic, it’s teamwork. Let’s push for the Okongo report to be implemented, not buried. Every small step counts, and your voice matters-start by asking your rep what they’re doing about this!
Katelyn Tamilio
July 4, 2025 AT 07:57

i just hope the kids growing up there don’t lose hope 🌱💙. land should be a gift, not a battlefield. we need more listening circles, not more eviction notices. peace first, paperwork later.
Morgan Skinner
July 4, 2025 AT 23:10

I’ve worked with communities in the Rift Valley who faced similar battles. The moment you involve traditional leaders in the mapping process-alongside tech-the tension drops. People trust what they helped build. The Okongo report isn’t just a document-it’s a bridge. Let’s build it.
Shirley Kaufman
July 5, 2025 AT 06:43

One thing no one’s talking about: the illicit brewing. It’s not just about alcohol-it’s about money laundering and unregulated settlements. Crack down on the brew houses, and you cut off funding to the land grabbers. Simple. Connect the dots.
Rachel Marr
July 6, 2025 AT 05:33

I know it’s easy to feel helpless, but there are grassroots groups already working on this-like the Eastern Land Justice Network. They’re training locals to use open-source mapping tools. If you care, donate, share their work, or just talk about it. Change starts with awareness 💪❤️
Letetia Mullenix
July 6, 2025 AT 07:09

i just… i cant imagine losing the land my family lived on for 70 years. no one should have to go through that. its not fair.
Chris Schill
July 7, 2025 AT 02:56

The fact that the National Police Service is being asked to collaborate on land enforcement is a red flag. Law enforcement should not be the first response to civil land disputes. This risks criminalizing poverty. We need courts, not checkpoints.
Antony Delagarza
July 7, 2025 AT 08:21

They’re using ‘wildlife conflict’ as an excuse to push out pastoralists. Same playbook as everywhere else. First they take your land, then they call you a threat to elephants. The real crime? The conservation NGOs getting funded while locals get jailed.