The national government through the office of the county commissioner has ordered people who have encroached on land belonging to Turkana University College to vacate with immediately effect.
About 20 acres out of the 100 acres of the varsity land located about six kilometers from Lodwar town was invaded by illegal settlers without the consent of the institution.
Varsity Principal Prof Thomas Akuja said the squatters encroached on the front part of the land near the main gate and have remained adamant despite being with notice to vacate the parcel of land.
Akuja said the varsity, a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of science and technology bought the 100 acres of land from Mount Kenya University.
“We have documents showing that the university owns the 100 acres of land and maps that support our claim,” said Akuja.
The national government through the county development and implementation committee has directed Akuja to write to the people who have encroached on the land demanding they vacate.
Commissioner Wambua Muthama also directed the Turkana central security team led by the deputy county commissioner Alexander Mativo to visit the site and assess the extent of encroachment last week.
The committee was established by executive order 1 of 2019 by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
It is alleged that a clique of influential people are behind the grabbing and it is suspected some might have sold the land to unsuspecting third parties.
Demand for land has gone up as prices soar in expectation of the oil production in the county.
Since the discovery of oil in 2012 the price of and has continued to rise as investors flock the county to benefit from the opportunities that will be created by oil industry.
By Peter Gitonga
