The High Court in Eldoret yesterday stopped the auction of 6,000 acres in Trans Nzoia belonging to the Agricultural Development Corporation.
The Ol Ngatongo and Sabwani farms were part of the land to be auctioned to recover a debt with the Kenya Commercial Bank.
Keysian Auctioneers had advertised the property on behalf of KCB but Justice Anthony Obwayo stopped the sale.
The order follows a suit filed by the lawyer of 21,000 squatters who claim the land belongs to them.
Morgan Omusundi filed the suit on behalf of squatters from Kiboroa, Sabwani and Olinga Tongo.
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has enjoined itself in the suit, in support of the squatters.
“The squatters owned the land originally and it should be given back to them,” CHRD director Ken Wafula said.
“It should not be auctioned. In any case, it is government land so it cannot be auctioned.”
Hundreds of the squatters were in court yesterday for the mention of the case.
Squatters’ leader Moses Wanjala said the land should neither be sold nor its status changed without consulting them.
“We will fight for our rights on this land until we get it,” he said.
The squatters have sued Keysian Auctioneers, KCB, the National Land Commission and the Attorney General.
Obwayo ruled: “conservative orders of status quo will be maintained until the hearing and determination of the matter.”
Last year, the Kiboroa Squatters Alliance petitioned Parliament to stop their eviction by the government.
On November 24, Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso forwarded the petition to the Lands Committee for discussion.
“The committee is required to engage the petitioners, NLC and the Lands ministry,” she said.
“This is with a view of arriving at a lasting solution to the issues raised in the petition.”
The case will be heard on March 16.
