Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has promised to fight the eviction of residents in Jipe/Mwakoshemi Village through Parliament and the courts, accusing the government of using force to remove families from disputed land.
Kalonzo made the remarks on Saturday, August 29, 2026, after visiting the affected residents in Taita Taveta County as the long-running land dispute took a new turn.
According to Kalonzo, more than 4,000 acres are at the heart of the dispute, with residents allegedly losing their homes after a night-time operation that left an entire village demolished.
“This morning, I travelled to Jipe/Mwakoshemi Village in Taita Taveta County to stand with residents whose land and homes have been taken from them by this regime,” Kalonzo said.
The opposition leader said hundreds of families had been forced to seek shelter in tents and makeshift structures after the evictions. He claimed the displaced residents were struggling to access basic needs, including food and water.
The situation, he added, had also affected children from the families, who he said were unable to attend school following their displacement.
“This is a grave abuse of state power and a violation of the constitutional rights of our people,” he said.
Kalonzo said the dispute would not end with his visit to the area, announcing plans to pursue the matter through both Parliament and the courts.
He said he had instructed legislators to raise the issue in Parliament while his lawyers work on legal proceedings against those he says were behind the evictions.
“I have directed that the matter be raised in Parliament, while our legal team moves to court to pursue those responsible and enforce existing court orders,” Kalonzo said.
Land dispute has history
The latest evictions have added to a land dispute in the Jipe area that has previously led to the removal of residents and drawn the attention of the courts.
In October 2025, more than 300 people from Mkocheni and Kachero were reportedly evicted from homes located near Lake Jipe. The land affected during the earlier operation was estimated at about 1,000 acres.
The Taita Taveta County Government opposed the evictions, saying they had taken place despite a June 2025 court order that prohibited the removal of residents or interference with them.
The affected residents had also filed a case at the Environment and Land Court in Voi, seeking protection from further evictions and a legal solution to the ownership dispute.
Kalonzo said his intervention was focused on defending the residents and ensuring that the dispute is settled through legal means.
“The people of Jipe/Mwakoshemi are not alone. Their land, dignity and rights must be protected. Justice must prevail,” he said.
The Wiper leader's visit came as he continued his political tour of Taita Taveta ahead of the 2027 General Election.
On Saturday, Kalonzo was scheduled to engage residents in Eldoro, Taveta town and Voi town as part of the tour.