Land tensions escalate in Transmara as youth vow to defend ancestral property

Over 500 youth from Imbolot village have taken matters into their own hands—camping out in nearby thickets, armed with crude weapons, and vowing to defend what they call their ancestral inheritance.

The disputed land, specifically Parcels 22 and 117, spans over 500 acres and is alleged to have been set aside by local elders for the benefit of future generations. Now, locals say that promise is under threat.

“This land belongs to the community. Our elders designated it for us. Now, leaders are trying to sell it quietly without our consent. We won’t allow it,” said Emmanuel Moseka, one of the youth guarding the area.

Anger has been further stoked by claims that security forces—particularly the General Service Unit (GSU)—have been deployed to the area to intimidate residents. Protesters question whose orders the officers are acting on.

“They say the orders come from above. Who is ‘above’? Is it Murkomen? We want the truth,” demanded Victor Olenchipai, a resident of Imbolot.

The youth have set up makeshift camps near the forested boundary with the Mara Reserve. They cook simple meals, sleep on the ground, and rotate guard duties—all in a bid to deter what they view as a creeping land grab orchestrated by powerful interests with local administrative backing.

“Our chief is betraying us. He’s selling us out to the rich. But we are ready to fight for this land. This isn’t just soil—it’s our heritage,” said Joshua Kisiara, another resident

Despite the mounting tension, neither county officials nor national government representatives have publicly addressed the matter. The silence, residents say, is deafening—and telling.