Tension is escalating among residents living along the Meru-Isiolo border, particularly in the Gambela area, due to a deepening land ownership dispute. The unrest stems from claims of illegal land sales and forced evictions involving over 400 acres of land initially occupied by members of the Tawakal Farmers Society.
More than 700 members of the society are appealing to the government for urgent intervention. The land in question, which is collectively owned by the group, was secured in 2014 and has been at the center of a growing conflict. The society, comprising 1,932 registered members, accuses some of its former officials of conspiring with private developers to sell off portions of the land without consent from the membership.
The conflict reportedly escalated after the commencement of construction on the Horn of Africa Road, which improved access to the area. This development attracted private developers, who began showing interest in acquiring land, allegedly through questionable transactions. Local residents assert that the land had been peacefully occupied by the society’s members for several years before the arrival of developers.
According to residents, the former chairman of the society, along with certain local authorities, played a central role in facilitating the land sales. They claim that, beginning in 2021, members were gradually pushed off the land. The involvement of administrative officers and elements within the investigative agencies has been cited as contributing to the disenfranchisement of the community.
Since the disputed sales, affected residents claim they have been met with violence whenever they attempt to access or utilize the land. Allegations have emerged that private landowners have employed armed guards to threaten or attack anyone who challenges their presence. These acts have reportedly led to several instances of intimidation and human rights violations.
Residents maintain that the land has ancestral significance and was only formally registered under the society due to delays in official government gazettement. Despite the lack of a gazetted title, they believe the community’s long-standing occupation and historical ties to the land establish their rightful claim.
The community is now demanding action from national authorities, calling for investigations into the land sales and the alleged collusion between society officials, local administrators, and developers. They have also called for an end to the use of force against residents trying to access the land.
With private developers now proceeding with plans to construct hotels and ranches, frustration among locals continues to grow. Residents believe these developments are a deliberate attempt to exclude them from land they have traditionally used for farming and settlement.
Community leaders have pledged to pursue justice through legal means, expressing readiness to take the matter to court. They are urging the Ministry of Interior to launch a comprehensive probe into the land dispute and provide protection for those facing threats and evictions.
There are growing calls for high-level intervention to ensure that the voices of affected residents are heard and their rights respected. Many in the community hope that national leaders will visit the area to understand the gravity of the situation and help resolve the conflict fairly.
