Kenya Parliament Tackles Squatter Resettlement Programme in Wednesday Session
Nairobi, 8 April 2026
Kenya’s National Assembly addressed the resettlement of documented squatters on 8th April 2026, focusing on ongoing land reform efforts affecting vulnerable populations nationwide. The parliamentary session coincides with existing programmes like the Chepkumia Land Exchange initiative, which aims to relocate squatters from Koibem and Ngerek Villages in Nandi County to 910 hectares of de-gazetted forest land, with implementation deadlines set for October 2026.
Parliamentary Schedule and Ongoing Initiatives
The National Assembly convened at 14:30 on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, for its Fifth Session afternoon sitting [1]. Among the matters scheduled for consideration was the ongoing petition regarding delays in resettlement of squatters under the Chepkumia Land Exchange Programme, originally laid before the House on 11th November 2025 [1][2]. This petition specifically addresses Petition No. 69 of 2023, which concerns the protracted delays affecting documented squatters in Nandi County [1]. The timing of Wednesday’s session underscores the urgency surrounding land reform issues that have remained unresolved for several years.
Nandi County Forest De-gazettement Details
The resettlement programme centres on varying the boundaries of the South Nandi Forest by excluding 910.62 hectares in the Kaimosi Block along the Yala River [1]. This substantial land allocation is specifically designated for settling documented squatters from two affected villages. Of the total hectares, 266.88 hectares are earmarked for documented squatters from Koibem Village, whilst 455.45 hectares are allocated for those from Ngerek Village [1]. An additional 188.29 hectares within the de-gazetted area are reserved for public utilities, ensuring infrastructure development accompanies the resettlement efforts [1]. These precise allocations demonstrate the government’s systematic approach to addressing longstanding land disputes through measured forest boundary adjustments.
Implementation Timeline and Ministerial Responsibilities
The Cabinet Secretary for Forestry bears responsibility for initiating the de-gazettement of 455.15 hectares from South Nandi Forest specifically for Ngerek Village settlement [1]. Following this de-gazettement, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Physical Planning, Urban Development and Public Works must facilitate the demarcation, survey, and issuance of title deeds for affected squatters [1]. A critical implementation deadline requires the Cabinet Secretary for Forestry, working alongside the Nandi County Government, the National Land Commission, and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, to complete resettlement within six months of the report’s adoption, establishing 7th October 2026 as the target completion date [1]. This coordinated ministerial approach reflects the complex administrative machinery required for successful land reform implementation.
Broader Implications for Vulnerable Communities
The parliamentary discussion on 8th April 2026 also included a statement response concerning the status of investigations into the killing of two Kenyan Nationals of Somali descent in Turkana South, highlighting the intersection between security concerns and settlement issues in border regions [1]. The Director of Survey, in collaboration with the Nandi County Government, must address specific cases of inadequate land allocation, including seven individuals with uninhabitable parcels and two individuals who received insufficient acreage within the designated 266.88 hectares for Koibem Village squatters [1]. These detailed provisions underscore how resettlement programmes must account for both collective community needs and individual circumstances, particularly in regions where host and displaced populations coexist under challenging security conditions.