Isiolo Woman Wins Five-Year Legal Battle Against Military Land Evictions
Isiolo, 15 March 2026
Kuresha Bille’s decade-long advocacy journey culminated in a landmark 2024 High Court victory that protected thousands of residents from government eviction notices. After witnessing devastating land conflicts in 2016, she led a community petition challenging the Ministry of Defence’s claim to their ancestral territory for military operations. Her success demonstrates how grassroots women defenders are reshaping land rights across Kenya’s northern counties through strategic legal action and community mobilisation.
Legal Victory After Five Years of Litigation
The protracted legal battle began in 2019 when the Ministry of Defence issued eviction notices to thousands of residents in Burat Ward, arguing that the land belonged to the government and was required for military operations [1]. Bille responded by leading the community in filing a petition with the High Court, challenging the eviction on constitutional grounds. “I led the filing of a petition with the community in court, challenging the eviction and arguing that removing our community members without consultation violated our constitutional rights to land and housing,” Bille explained [1]. The case sustained between 2019 and 2024, representing a 5 year struggle that ultimately vindicated the community’s position [1].
Community Leadership and Broader Movement Impact
Following her legal success, Bille was elected as the Chairperson of the Burat Community Land Group, formalising her role in protecting community land rights [1]. Her work exemplifies the impact of the NiMama Mashinani Livelihood Diversification Project, a Defenders Coalition initiative established in 2019 to strengthen Women Human Rights Defenders across Nairobi, Wajir, Lamu, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Vihiga counties [1]. As a beneficiary of this programme, Bille was among 40 Indigenous Women Human Rights Defenders empowered in Isiolo and Marsabit counties [1]. Her philosophy of collective action resonates through her Swahili maxim: “Violations zikizidi, shikana na wanawake wenzako. The voices of the weak become amplified when they come together” [1].
Wider Network of Women Defenders Making Impact
Bille’s success forms part of a broader movement of women human rights defenders transforming communities across Kenya. Lavina, another defender, has focused on advocating for the formal recognition of caregivers within Kenya’s legal and policy frameworks, coordinating the Kisumu County Network for Caregivers and Parents of Children with Disabilities [1]. Her advocacy efforts contributed to the landmark National Disability Act of 2025 [1]. “We have representation for PWDs, women, and youth. But caregivers were missing,” Lavina noted, highlighting gaps in existing support systems [1].
Recognition and Ongoing Challenges in 2026
The achievements of women defenders like Bille align with the global observance of Women’s Month in 2026 under the theme “Give to Gain” [1]. Milka Hadida from Tana River County exemplifies this principle, having begun her work delivering sanitary packages in 2014 before expanding to address gender-based violence, early marriage, and women’s rights to land and inheritance [1]. Her contributions earned recognition through the Florence Nightingale Award in 2021, followed by both the Shujaa of the Year Award and the Mwanamke Bomba Award in 2024 [1]. As Milka observes: “A woman in leadership does more than just shatter a glass ceiling. She becomes a bridge-builder, ensuring that the path she cleared is wide enough for an entire generation to follow” [1]. These defenders continue addressing complex land conflicts and social issues that particularly affect vulnerable communities, including refugees and displaced populations who often lack secure tenure rights [GPT].