Thousands of residents of Chokaa and Njiru areas of Nairobi face imminent evictions after they failed to meet payment demands issued by the Kirima family for land parcels they possess.

The residents were given strict conditions by the lawyers representing the administrators of the estate of the late Gerishon Kirima.

The offer letters issued to residents demanded that they pay in full the price of the plots depending on the size and the location.

The residents were given a deadline of December 19, 2023, to meet the conditions set.

“Tulifunga mwaka na uwoga na tumefungua mwaka na uwoga zaidi,” Mackenzie Odera, an occupant of Chokaa upper chamber, said.

Last month, the residents were issued with offer letters to start making purchases of the plots they are occupying.

One of the letters seen by Citizen TV states: “After verification of the plot and the location of the residential court, the final terms include an introductory plot purchase of Ksh.2.167 million for a plot measuring 30 by 60 feet and a further Ksh.100,000 administrative cost to cater for subdivision costs, valuers fees, administrative fees and legal fees incurred by the estate."

The residents have termed the amounts as harsh and way above the current land value in the area.

“Sisi tunaomba hii pesa ambayo wamesema tulipe waweke chini kwa sababu ni nyingi sana…hatukatai kulipa shamba,” Juliet Nyagothie Mbogo lamented.

Another resident, Mary Wangari, added: “Ile nilisikia nilishangaa sana kwa sababu siwezi nikapata.”

Further, the residents say those acting on behalf of the family of the late Kirima as valuers never set foot on the land to conduct valuation.

They say the independent valuers placed the value of a plot measuring 30 by 60 feet below a million shillings.

“Juzi sisi tumeita valuer akatoa value ya 30 by 60 kuwa Ksh.750,000...hawa valuers wao walitoka wapi?” Evans Ombaa posed.

Odera added: “Tunajua procedures za kuuza shamba…mbona hizo procedures zisiletwe na wenye shamba na tufuate utaratibu wa kununua shamba kwa sababu shamba sio kama unga ambayo unaenda kununua kwa duka na uanze kupika.”

Residents have appealed to the Kirima family to have a sitting with them and agree on a friendly payment plan.

“Kama familia ya Kirima ndio wenye shamba si wakuje tukae nao chini…tulipane kama vile tulilipana na cartels...taarifa yangu kwao ni kuwa wale wanaotumwa hatutaongea na wao tena…tunataka kuongea na wenye shamba,” Ombaa said.

“Sikatai kulipa kwa sababu ata nikiambiwa kulipa kidogo kidogo nitaweza kulipa…tuwe tunalipa ile kitu tunaweza,” added Wangari.

The offer letters dated December 22, 2023 further state that if the full plot payments are not made by the said date, the estate reserves the right to revert to execution of the court-ordered deadline of December 31, 2023.

In October last year, a court ruled that the land legally belonged to the estate of the late Kirima and ordered the settlers to leave.

The fate of the residents now rests in the hands of the Environment and Lands Court, which is expected to determine their petition on January 23, 2024.