Tension rises in Transmara as youth defend ancestral land

Tension is rising in Keringani Group Ranch, located in Transmara South, where angry residents are now locked in a serious standoff with individuals they accuse of trying to grab community land near the famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

What started as murmurs of discontent has now grown into a full-blown resistance. The residents are no longer sitting back.

In fact, more than 500 young people from Imbolot village have taken strong action. They have left their homes and set up camp in nearby bushes.

Armed with crude weapons like sticks and machetes, they have vowed to protect what they believe is their rightful ancestral land.

According to them, they are not just defending soil—they are protecting their history, their identity, and their future.

The land in question

The land in question covers more than 500 acres and includes Parcels 22 and 117. According to locals, elders from past generations had reserved this land for the benefit of their children and grandchildren.

Sadly, the community now believes that promise is in danger. They say powerful people, with the help of some local leaders, are quietly trying to sell off the land without informing the community.

“This land belongs to us,” declared Emmanuel Moseka, one of the youth now guarding the area day and night. “Our elders gave it to us. But now, leaders are trying to sell it behind our backs. We cannot let that happen.”

To make things worse, there are reports that the government has deployed several security forces to the area.

Orders from above

Residents are especially concerned about the presence of officers from the General Service Unit (GSU), who they claim have been sent to threaten and intimidate them. Protesters are demanding answers.

“They tell us the orders come from above. But who is ‘above’? Is it Cabinet Secretary Murkomen? We deserve to know the truth,” shouted Victor Olenchipai, another frustrated resident of Imbolot.

Meanwhile, the youth continue to hold their ground. They have built makeshift shelters along the edge of the forest near the Mara Reserve.

There, they cook simple food, sleep on bare ground, and take turns watching over the land. Their mission is clear: stop the land from being taken, no matter the cost.

“Our chief is not on our side anymore,” said Joshua Kisiara. “He’s helping the rich take our land. But we are not afraid. We are ready to defend what belongs to us. This land is our heritage.”

Despite all the protests, the tension, and the growing fear in the community, no leader from the county government or the national government has come forward to speak about the situation.

For many residents, this silence speaks volumes. To them, it feels like betrayal. And as the days go by, the standoff continues to grow more intense—with no solution in sight.