Mp:Government to reposes Moiben property worth Ksh2B over row!
“The land will be repossessed by the government if the conflict over ownership of the property between the two warring parties is not resolved“
Keiyo North MP Adams Kipsanai is trying to resolve a 30-year land dispute between the more than 1000 families and a private developer in the Sergoit area along the border of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.
The private developer is battling for control of the 2,000 acres of agricultural land whose value is estimated at sh 2 billion.
The property in question was allocated to the families in the 1980s by the late President Daniel arap Moi as compensation after the
government acquired their lands to pave way for the construction of Iten district headquarters.
Other government projects that were constructed on the acquired lands include St Patrick’s Boys High School, Iten county Referral Hospital and public servant quarters.
The law maker has asked the two parties to resolve the dispute in an amicable manner to save the parcels of land from going to waste due to decade long conflicts that has led to loss of lives and property.
He regretted that since the government compensated the property to Moiben families, no tangible development had taken place on land due to violent fights waged by the developer on one hand and the rightful
owners on the other hand.
The first term MP has said that since the two parties are claiming the land belongs to them, he will have no option but compel the national
government to take back the property.
“The land will be repossessed by the government if the conflict over ownership of the property between the two warring parties is not resolved in the soonest time possible, “warned Kipsanai.
Kipsanai noted that successive political leadership in the area had failed to resolve the land dispute adding that he will try his level
best to see to it that the matter is settled for the interest of the displaced families.
Last month, angry mob lynched a middle-aged man after they cornered him as he was preparing to spray poisonous chemicals on the maize crops in the dispute land.
The victim was among a group of five youths who had been hired by the private developer to spray the maize crops after they were allegedly
paid sh 1,000 each for the assignment on the fateful night.
Moiben sub county police commander Stephen Okal, while confirming the
incident to the media, said the land in question had been at the centre of an ownership dispute for a long time.
“We managed to rescue four of the deceased’s accomplices in the foiled mission and took them to Annabeth police station where they were detained together with the exhibits, “said Okal.
The affected families have been protesting against the private developer for encroaching on their land and using a fake title deed to
evict them on their legally acquired property.
“Our hope of enjoying a pumper harvest this year has been dashed after all our maize crops were destroyed after the private developer
who claims to be the owner of this property hired goons to spray killer chemicals on our crops,” said one of the affected families,
Fredrick Chebet.
Chebet has urged the government to intervene in their plight so as to save them from imminent eviction from the said private developer.
He has also called upon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the title deeds in the possession of the said
private developer.
“We suspect that the documents in possession of the private developer including title deed are forged and we are calling upon EACC to
investigate the legality of these documents,” added Chebet.
Another affected member, Said Keitany, regretted that their effort to reach local administration to address the matter has been futile.
“We have been visiting various government offices in this region where we are only given promises with no serious action being taken to
resolve the dispute,” complained Keitany.
Keittany who the father of the MP said their tormentor who is laying claim to their land is now threatening to evict the only primary school in the parcel of land.
“We have taken our delegations to various government offices including County commissioners ‘of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet without getting any solution. Most of the government officers are just making
promises with no serious action,” said Keitany.
However, Uasin Gishu County commissioner Edyson Nyale said his office has received several complaints on the land and that they were on top thing sot ensure the ownership dispute is addressed with seriousness
the matter deserves.
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