Police officers in Narok County are facing accusations of contempt of court after allegedly supervising the ploughing of an 81-acre parcel of disputed land, despite a court order barring any activity on the property pending the resolution of an ownership case.
The incident occurred on Friday in Olchoro Division, Narok North Sub-county, where a group of ten police officers, accompanied by Narok Central Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Abdishakurr Ali and Siyiabei Location Chief Molonget Sempele, reportedly provided security to one of the parties involved in the dispute as they began cultivating the land.
The land in question, registered as Narok/CIS-MARA/OLCHORO/432, is the subject of an active court case.
Court documents show that the court had issued an order restricting both parties from undertaking any development or activity on the land until the matter is fully heard and determined.
Nekapete Saaya, the main complainant, claims to have held the title deed for the land since February 1995, issued by the Narok District Land Registry. She accuses her co-wife, Nalamae Ene Saaya, of wrongfully occupying the land and misleading authorities about its ownership.
“The disputed parcel is number 432. My co-wife’s land is number 431,” Nekapete stated.
“She doesn’t understand her land boundaries. We filed an objection to her title, and the case is still in court. I don’t understand why the police are protecting her to plough land that’s under dispute,” she added.
However, Nalamae, who was present during the ploughing, insisted that she inherited the land from her late husband, Kintil Ole Saaya, who passed away in 2002.
She further explained that she only accessed the land after being evicted from a mud house built for her by current Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya in 2019, during his tenure as Narok County Commissioner.
Two of Nekapete’s sons, Kapolondo and Kayiok Saaya, also condemned the involvement of the police, accusing them of supporting their stepmother.
They claimed the action was based on misinformation and alleged favouritism.
“The land, parcel 432, belongs to our mother. She has the title deed. Yet, the authorities are siding with our stepmother, despite the matter still being in court,” stated Kapolondo.
ACC Abdishakurr Ali defended the officers’ presence, saying they were enforcing a court order that allowed Nalamae to continue occupying the property until the case is concluded.
A court order dated 13 February 2024, issued by Narok Chief Magistrate Hezron Nyaberi, stated:
“By consent, the application dated 9 April 2021 and the application dated 20 November 2023 are compromised in the following terms: The defendant (Nalamae) is to continue occupying the land currently in her possession.”
The order further directed that the plaintiff (Nekapete) was to continue using the portion of land she occupies, and that both parties were to comply with additional provisions within 14 days.
Legal experts and local leaders have condemned the incident, arguing that the police acted in clear violation of the court’s directive by allowing cultivation to begin before the legal dispute was resolved.
“The court order was explicit — no development or activity was to take place on the land until the matter was determined. This is a direct violation of that order,” said a lawyer familiar with the case, who requested anonymity.
The case has sparked public outcry in Narok, where land disputes remain highly sensitive and often volatile. Concerns have been raised about possible legal consequences for the officers involved, including contempt of court charges.
As the legal battle continues, residents and observers are calling for clarity and accountability, urging the government to ensure that all parties — including law enforcement — uphold the rule of law.
