Panic has gripped the dusty townships of Makuyu in Maragua, Murang’a County, where the promise of development has arrived not with hope, but with an eviction notice. Over 130 families have been told to vacate 39 acres of prime land within 14 days, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation between Maragua MP Mary Wamaua and Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.

At the heart of the dispute is a classic Kenyan dilemma: the collision between state infrastructure projects and historical land injustices. The government intends to repossess the land—stretching from the Makuyu slaughterhouse to the Gakungu area—to construct a stadium, a primary and secondary school, and a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campus. But for residents who have called this place home for over three decades, the Part Development Plan (PDP) released last week is a death sentence for their livelihoods.

The 'Kanjo' Paper Trail

The tragedy of Makuyu lies in the paperwork. Residents claim they legally purchased these plots in the 1980s from the now-defunct local municipal council, clutching allotment letters they believed were ironclad. However, the Ministry of Lands has declared these documents void, categorizing the settlement as an encroachment on public utility land.

“We were told that the allotment letters are not recognized at the land registry; thus, we can't claim ownership,” said Mary Wanjiku, a resident who has lived on the land for 30 years. Her story is echoed by Jane Nyambura, who watched in dismay as government surveyors mapped out her compound for demolition. “We got a rude shock. They want to take our homes for a playground.”

• Total Land Targeted: 39 acres.
• Planned Projects: Stadium (14.3 acres), Secondary School (5.21 acres), Primary School (4.3 acres), KMTC Campus (approx. KES 400 million investment).
• Affected Population: 130+ households.

A Clash of Titans

The eviction threat has ignited a political firestorm between two of Murang’a’s most powerful leaders. MP Mary Wamaua has thrown her weight behind the residents, accusing the Ministry of Lands of ambushing her constituents without dialogue. Speaking at a tense baraza, Wamaua admitted the land was originally public but argued that the transfer to private hands by former councilors cannot simply be wished away at the expense of innocent buyers.

“These people used their money to buy these plots,” Wamaua emphasized, warning that the move would paint the President’s development agenda in a “bad light.”

Conversely, the Ministry of Lands, under CS Alice Wahome, maintains a rigid stance on reclaiming public assets. The government argues that the expansion of public amenities is critical for Makuyu’s growth, particularly the KES 400 million KMTC project which promises to inject millions into the local economy through student housing and business opportunities. The Deputy County Commissioner, Bernard Odino, has promised to forward residents' grievances, but the 14-day clock continues to tick.

As the deadline looms, the residents of Makuyu are left in a precarious limbo—caught between the government's vision of a modernized town and the terrifying reality of becoming squatters on land they thought they owned.