Land Controversy Sparks Tension in Elgeyo Marakwet County
“Our voices were completely ignored. This land has deep historical ties to our people,” said Dr. James Kigen, Secretary of the Kaplolo/Kapchemutwa Sacco Society.
Dr. James Kigen, Secretary of the Kaplolo/Kapchemutwa Sacco Society
A serious land dispute is unfolding in Elgeyo Marakwet County, pitting members of the Kaplolo/Kapchemutwa community against several high-ranking politicians in the current government. The conflict centers on the alleged coercion of an investor to sell a 318-acre parcel of land, valued at KSh 477 million, without consulting the local community.
Community leaders claim that their land rights were disregarded by both the seller and the new buyers. “Our voices were completely ignored. This land has deep historical ties to our people,” said Dr. James Kigen, Secretary of the Kaplolo/Kapchemutwa Sacco Society.
The disputed land, formerly part of Elgeyo Saw Mills in Kaplolo sub-location, Eldoret East, lies on the border between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties. Originally owned by European settler Shown Show, the farm once spanned 4,900 acres. In the post-independence period, 318 acres were carved out and turned into an industrial facility — first known as Algao Saw Mills, later renamed Elgeyo Saw Mills. The remaining land was sold to the local community in 1965.
According to reports, the acquisition involved collaboration between politicians, corrupt lawyers, and compromised land officials. Allegedly, a serving Cabinet Secretary and a former Treasury Minister each acquired 100 acres, while the rest was purchased by a senior politician from outside the county.
“This is a land grab, plain and simple,” said Ambrose Rono, a member of the Sacco’s leadership. “We made several attempts to purchase the land ourselves, but were ignored at every turn.”
Dr. Kigen warned that unchecked land injustices could lead to dangerous consequences. “What happened in the Narok South land row — where six people lost their lives — should not be treated as a minor issue,” he cautioned.
With tensions rising, some officials are taking preemptive measures. Investigations by People Daily revealed that the Cabinet Secretary who acquired a portion of the land has since sold his 100-acre share to the Keiyo County Government for use as an industrial park.
However, the community remains dissatisfied, demanding a full investigation and legal review of outdated land laws that they say have enabled elites to dispossess local populations. “We need land task forces to tackle these injustices, especially in counties with a history of settler occupation,” said Wilson Cheserem, another committee member.
Community members also criticized the management of Gill Singh, the most recent operator of Elgeyo Saw Mills, accusing him of allowing political manipulation to facilitate the sale.
Land-related scandals have become endemic in former white highlands such as Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok, Nakuru, Laikipia, and Nyandarua. Similar challenges persist at the Coast, where residents have battled absentee landlords for generations.
“The land was ours. What happened was fraud, and we will not remain silent,” said James Kangogo, echoing the sentiments of many affected families who now face homelessness and poverty due to the controversy.
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