Residents of Loresho and Kitisuru in Nairobi on Tuesday protested after land said to belong to Loresho Police Post was allegedly grabbed.
The individual is accused of displacing several police families, leaving them stranded as their homes were demolished.
The protest saw local Gen Z youth tear down a perimeter wall that had been constructed on the three-acre piece of land.
The demonstrators, alongside local leaders, stormed the police post to demand the immediate removal of the alleged land grabber.
Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi joined his constituents in condemning the incident and vowed to protect public land from being seized unlawfully.
He called on the grabber to come out and present any legitimate documents proving ownership, follow the law and engage the public openly.
"This is public land, and whoever is laying claim to this property should come openly and face the community. Whoever is laying claim should show us bonafide documents,” he said.
He added that the individual should put up a board outside the land with information on the upcoming project.
“If that is not the case, we will know the person is a fraud, and we will not allow that. In Westlands, we are going to protect any space that belongs to the public," vowed Wanyonyi.
The MP also criticised the involvement of some officers, stating that they should protect public property rather than shield criminals.
Residents, led by Jeff Luseno from Loresho, voiced their frustration with the blatant disregard for the community's rights.
Luseno praised Wanyonyi for standing in solidarity with them.
"We thank our MP for standing with the community. This land belongs to the Kangemi and Loresho communities. We've seen people coming here and throwing families out of their homes in the middle of the night. We are delighted with the Gen Z youth who have actively defended this public land," said Luseno.
He also challenged the individual to come forward and explain how he acquired the public land and changed its use without public consultation.
Ndungu Njiru, a Kitisuru resident, echoed Luseno's sentiments and called for stronger measures to prevent further land grabbing in Westlands.
The individual is alleged to have used hired goons to evict the police families, adding to the outrage.
