A new land dispute in Huruma, Uasin Gishu County, has sparked outrage among residents and revived national attention to the historic Sisiwa compensation case—a landmark ruling involving state acquisition and unresolved land rights.
At the center of the current controversy is land parcel L.R. 772/4/2, allegedly fenced off by Raiply Company. Local leaders and residents argue that the land was historically reserved for public use and should remain in community hands.
In 2017, the Environment and Land Court in Eldoret ruled in favor of the estate of the late Malakwen Arap Sisiwa, awarding KSh 2.95 billion in compensation for the compulsory acquisition of 100 acres of land in 1978. The land, which was later used for vital public infrastructure—including the Huruma Sub-County Hospital and the Kenya-Uganda Road—was seized without compensation, violating constitutional rights.
The court rejected a conflicting title from Rural Housing Estates Limited and affirmed the Sisiwa family’s ownership. That case, National Land Commission v Estate of Sisiwa Arap Malakwen, remains a legal milestone in land rights litigation in Kenya.
Fast forward to today: Residents claim history is repeating itself.
Led by Huruma Ward MCA Wakili Kimani Wanjohi, locals staged protests, accusing Raiply of illegal land acquisition and defiance of a government caveat meant to preserve the parcel for community use.
“This land was given freely for the public good by Sisiwa. Who sold it to Raiply?” asked Wanjohi.
Despite a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Uasin Gishu County Government to remove the fence, no action has been taken. Community members have vowed to reclaim the land if no official steps are enforced.
“We will not be intimidated. We were born and raised here,” declared local elder Psalms Sunguti.
Human rights activist Evans Odhiambo also weighed in, condemning the act as part of a larger trend of land grabbing in Eldoret.
“This was our community space—now we’re watching it disappear.”
Legal experts caution that if unresolved, the situation may escalate. Kipnyekwei, legal counsel for the Sisiwa estate, noted:
“The 2017 ruling was a milestone, but this dispute shows that Kenya’s land governance issues remain deeply entrenched.”
