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How Christmas Day Ngong community land beaconing led to death of police officer, scores of civilians injured
Kibiko Community Land Trust Chairperson Moses Monik, flanked by a section of members during a press briefing on Dec 27, 2025, at Kibiko, where the prime land beaconing exercise is underway.
What you need to know:
- The bone of contention is the subdivision of a 2,800-acre prime piece of land worth Sh100 billion, with leadership wrangles having pitted two rival groups against each other for years, stalling the process.
- One faction, backed by the Kajiado County government, is led by long-serving chairman Moses Parantai, while the splinter group is led by Mr Moses Monik. Each faction enjoys a sizeable following.
One police officer has been reported dead, several civilians injured and two motorcycles burned in Kibiko, Kajiado West sub-County, following an ongoing communal land subdivision standoff.
The slain officer was among several police officers attacked and injured by a group of rowdy youths who ambushed a contingent of heavily armed but restrained regular and General Service Unit (GSU) officers on Christmas Day as they provided security to surveyors erecting beacons.
Several civilians also sustained injuries during the melee, while seven individuals were arrested and are currently in police custody awaiting arraignment in court on Monday.
Youths armed with arrows, spears and other crude weapons are said to be working in cahoots with a section of local leaders opposed to the land subdivision.
Two motorcycles were burned on Thursday night before their riders were attacked with pangas. The riders are among those recuperating in different hospitals.
Security has since been beefed up to ensure the land beaconing exercise continues uninterrupted.
The bone of contention is the subdivision of a 2,800-acre prime piece of land worth Sh100 billion, with leadership wrangles having pitted two rival groups against each other for years, stalling the process.
One faction, backed by the Kajiado County government, is led by long-serving chairman Moses Parantai, while the splinter group is led by Mr Moses Monik. Each faction enjoys a sizeable following.
The faction carrying out the beaconing exercise, led by Mr Monik, claimed to be the legally recognised leadership and said it is ready to issue title deeds to all members.
Mr Monik claimed that those opposed to the ongoing process sold their shares to outsiders many years ago, but reiterated his commitment to ensure no member is evicted or denied their share.
“The recent skirmishes are being funded by local politicians and a few individuals who sold their shares to outsiders to derail the process. They are afraid the issuance of individual title deeds will unmask them,” said Mr Monik.
“Recently, we issued at least 4,000 title deeds to our members. We will not be derailed from ensuring that no member is evicted or loses their land ownership rights,” he added.
He castigated a section of local leaders whom he accused of financing militias to cause violence.
Long overdue
“We urge security agencies to dismantle the militias terrorising innocent members. In the last one month, people have been maimed and property torched. These people ought to be stopped,” Mr Monik added.
Kibiko Community Land Trust Secretary-General Emmanuel Litei said the police backup during the exercise was a culmination of the recognition of their team by various government entities.
“This exercise is long overdue. We possess all the necessary government documents to carry out the process. I challenge our rivals to produce their documents for public scrutiny,” said Mr Litei.
The exercise is expected to be completed next week.
On Friday, Kajiado Senator Samuel Seki, accompanied by Kajiado County Executive Committee member in charge of Lands Hamilton Parseina, visited the area before condemning the skirmishes.
“Some senior government officers are moving in earnest to grab a piece of community land. Let them be warned—we will not allow them to take even an inch of our ancestral land,” said Senator Seki.
Kajiado County Commander Alex Shikondi warned individuals fuelling violence for personal gain, saying security agencies agreed to provide protection after scrutinising documents presented by the faction erecting the beacons.
“Our responsibility as police is to provide security. We will not allow lawlessness. Some politicians and individuals are on our radar for incitement. Those found culpable will face the law,” said Mr Shikondi.
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