Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua have accused the Kenyan government of illegally seizing land belonging to retired railway workers. The disputed property, located on Valley Road in Nairobi, was allegedly handed over to the retirees as part of their pension scheme under a legal notice.
Speaking to the media, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his People’s Liberation Party (PLP) counterpart Martha Karua condemned the State for deploying General Service Unit (GSU) officers to guard the land, which they claim has been unlawfully taken over by a private developer.
Musyoka demanded that President William Ruto address the nation and explain who has acquired the property. “It has come to our shocking attention that a person high up in government, known for grabbing public land, is at it again. They have chased the poor pensioners out of their property on Valley Road, and the said property is now under police protection as a private developer demolishes the houses of the poor retirees,” Musyoka said.
Karua emphasized that although the title deed may have changed hands, the rightful owners remain the retirees. “It is not available to the government or to any land grabber because it has owners who are the retirees,” she said. Karua further revealed that the property had been sold through legal means for Ksh.400 million, of which Ksh.320 million had already been paid. The remaining Ksh.80 million is still pending, but Karua insisted that the transaction was lawful and conducted with a Kenyan buyer.
The Association of Kenya Railways Retirees has been holding peaceful demonstrations, demanding the return of the property and accusing the government of denying them their rightful retirement benefits. According to the association, the land was legally vested in their retirement scheme under the Trustee Perpetual Succession Act, making the transfer irreversible.
“We have all the papers, the legal notice, and the Trustee Perpetual Succession Act, which is irrevocable. Once properties are transferred to trustees, you cannot revoke the same,” said a representative of the retirees.
The retirees claim they were forcibly evicted from the land, which remains under police protection while demolition continues. They have called on President Ruto to intervene and question how much land an individual can reasonably own.
As of now, the government has not issued an official statement regarding the allegations. The situation continues to spark public outrage, with Kenyans calling for transparency and justice for the affected retirees.
This land dispute highlights ongoing tensions surrounding public property and pension rights in Kenya, raising questions about accountability and the protection of retired workers’ entitlements.
