President William Ruto has issued firm orders for the immediate withdrawal of police officers who had been deployed to a disputed piece of land in Baba Dogo, Nairobi.
The directive was made on Thursday during the official launch of the Climate WorkX: Rehabilitating the Nairobi River initiative.
While addressing the gathering, the President instructed the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and Nairobi Regional Commander, George Seda, to ensure that all officers vacate the land without any delay.
“I have been informed that police officers are currently stationed on that land. I want to make it clear that they must vacate the area immediately. That land belongs to the public, and this instruction should be implemented at once,” Ruto said.
President Ruto sharply criticised a yet-to-be-identified private developer who is believed to be trying to grab the public land. He firmly stated that the government would not allow any individual or group to illegally take over land that belongs to the people.
He went on to promise the local community that the government would construct a stadium on the land to promote youth talents and make good use of the space.
“We are going to build a stadium on that land,” the President assured, emphasizing the government’s dedication to protecting public land from illegal acquisition.
The Head of State then issued a stern warning to the developer allegedly behind the attempted land grabbing.
“To the developer who is trying to take over that land illegally, let me warn you: there are three things waiting for you. You should stop immediately, or be prepared to face the full force of the government. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” Ruto warned.
The ownership of the land in question has been at the center of a heated dispute for several months, with the private developer claiming legal ownership. However, members of the local community argue that the land belongs to the public and should be preserved for community use.
On Wednesday, the conflict escalated after a standoff erupted between police officers and residents. Many of the officers were dressed in anti-riot gear and had been deployed to oversee the demolition of existing structures on the land and support the takeover by the developer.
Despite the presence of heavily armed police, hundreds of local youth refused to leave. Instead, they staged a peaceful demonstration by occupying the field, where they played football and participated in other recreational activities to show their connection to the land.
Footage and photos shared with Newshub.co.ke captured the youth actively using the pitch, showing no signs of fear even with the intimidating police presence. Bulldozers were seen waiting nearby, but could not proceed with the demolition due to the defiant crowd.
In the end, the planned demolition was halted, and no structures were brought down as the situation remained tense but peaceful. The President’s strong stance and clear directives are now expected to bring relief to the residents and restore calm in the area.
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