West Pokot Elder Battles to Keep Gold-Rich Land as Long-Running Court Dispute Deepens
Among those allegedly claiming interests in the disputed property, according to the advocate, is Mr. Loitanyang’s former wife. The advocate told journalists that the couple separated more than 20 years ago and that the woman later married Mr. Loitanyang’s brother.
Pilat Kemerinyang Loitanyang addresses members of the media outside the West Pokot Law Courts following proceedings related to a long-standing land dispute.
By James Gitaka
A protracted land dispute involving a West Pokot elder and a six-acre parcel believed to contain gold deposits has intensified, with fresh allegations of land invasion, intimidation and irregularities in the adjudication process emerging before a West Pokot court.
The matter, which has been in litigation since 2021, came up before Principal Magistrate Stella Telewa in West Pokot. The dispute is being heard under ELC Case No. 05 of 2021 and Land Case No. E036 of 2023 (ELC E036/2023).
At the centre of the dispute is Pilat Kemerinyang Loitanyang, a resident of Kopro Location in Wakor Sub-location, Sigor Division, who maintains that the contested land belongs to him and his family and that he has occupied and utilized it for decades.
Representing the elderly claimant, Advocate Michael Chemwok told the court that his client has been forced to defend multiple suits arising from competing ownership claims over the parcel. According to the advocate, maps produced during the adjudication process initially showed that the land claimed by the opposing party was situated outside Mr. Loitanyang’s property.
However, Chemwok alleged that subsequent actions by officials involved in land adjudication and survey altered the situation, resulting in overlapping claims and years of litigation.
“This old man is now being described as a trespasser on land he has occupied for decades,” Chemwok said outside the court after the proceedings.
Gold Discovery Fuels Tensions
According to Chemwok, tensions surrounding the disputed parcel escalated after the discovery of gold deposits in the area.
The advocate alleged that individuals claiming ownership interests in the land have moved miners onto the property and commenced extraction activities while the ownership dispute remains unresolved before the court.
He further claimed that more than 150 people had allegedly been brought onto the land to conduct mining operations and that the activities had significantly altered the landscape.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and the opposing parties had not publicly responded to the claims by the time of publication.
Claims of Harassment and Intimidation
Chemwok also alleged that his client has faced increasing hostility from individuals he describes as land invaders, many of whom are personally known to him.
Among those allegedly claiming interests in the disputed property, according to the advocate, is Mr. Loitanyang’s former wife. The advocate told journalists that the couple separated more than 20 years ago and that the woman later married Mr. Loitanyang’s brother.
The lawyer further claimed that his client has been subjected to a series of complaints and legal challenges that he believes are intended to pressure him amid the ongoing ownership dispute.
“The mistreatment of this old man is what is troubling us. There appears to be growing aggression against him despite the matter remaining before the court,” Chemwok said.
Questions Raised Over Land Records
During the proceedings, the advocate questioned the circumstances under which some land records and title documents were allegedly processed.
Chemwok argued that some documentation presented in relation to the disputed property raises questions that should be thoroughly examined by the court. He maintained that the adjudication process in parts of West Pokot has generated numerous disputes involving overlapping claims and competing titles.
Mr. Loitanyang also told the court that he has lived on the land for much of his life and questioned how rival claims emerged during the adjudication process.
He said he had occupied, cultivated and developed the property long before the current dispute arose and urged the court to restore what he considers his rightful boundaries.
Human Rights Advocate Warns of Emerging Land Crisis
Speaking after the hearing, human rights advocate Kemutai Kirui warned that unresolved land adjudication disputes could become a major source of conflict in West Pokot if not addressed urgently.
Kirui called on the Ministry of Lands, particularly the adjudication and survey departments, to intervene and review complaints surrounding land registration processes in the county.
“West Pokot risks moving from conflicts associated with cattle rustling and banditry to land-related disputes if these issues are not addressed. Land ownership is an extremely emotive issue, and allegations of multiple title deeds being issued for the same parcels require urgent attention,” he said.
Wider Context of Mining and Land Disputes
The case comes at a time when gold mining activities in West Pokot have attracted growing public attention and government scrutiny. Authorities have in recent years raised concerns about illegal mining operations, environmental degradation, safety risks and disputes linked to ownership of mineral-rich land. In 2025, the government ordered the closure of hundreds of mining sites across the county following fatal accidents and concerns over unregulated mining activities.
Environmental regulators have also cited concerns over illegal mining activities along sections of River Turkwel in Sigor, where authorities reported numerous mining sites operating without the required approvals.
Awaiting Determination
The court is expected to continue hearing evidence from all parties before determining ownership of the contested land.
For Mr. Loitanyang, the outcome could determine not only ownership of the six-acre parcel but also control of land that has become increasingly valuable amid growing interest in gold mining in the region.
Until then, the dispute remains one of the most closely watched land cases in West Pokot, highlighting the complex intersection of land rights, mineral wealth and community relations in Kenya’s emerging mining frontier.
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