Orwa Ranch Land Dispute: Man Charged Over Ksh 34 Million KETRACO Fraud as Court Adjourns Case to 2026

A long-running land dispute involving the 13,000-hectare Orwa Group Ranch in West Pokot County has returned to court, with fresh scrutiny on alleged fraud, irregular land adjudication, and the disputed disbursement of millions of shillings in compensation funds.

Enos Lomuale Rianosia on Tuesday appeared before Principal Magistrate Stellah Telewa at the Kapenguria Law Courts, where he was charged with obtaining registration by false pretence, contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge sheet, Rianosia is accused of, on March 21, 2019, and September 11, 2019, at Equity Bank, Kapenguria Branch, jointly with others not before the court, fraudulently obtaining more than Ksh 34 million from the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). Prosecutors allege the accused falsely presented himself and his accomplices as bona fide officials of Orwa Group Ranch, thereby inducing the release of the funds.

The money was reportedly meant to compensate the community for land easements associated with electricity transmission infrastructure.

Court adjourns as elderly witnesses testify

The case was adjourned to March 11, 2026, when all seven prosecution witnesses are expected to testify. Among those who appeared in court were elderly community members, led by Julius Achapa (66), Paulo Cheptopot (69), Stephen Lopos (67) and Patrick Pkiach (78), whose testimonies are expected to shed light on the history and ownership of the ranch.

Magistrate Telewa directed that the witnesses be heard comprehensively on the next hearing date.

A ranch at the centre of decades-old conflict

Orwa Ranch, located near the Marich area of West Pokot County, was first declared an adjudication section between 1978 and 1981, with an original membership register of 345 people. However, disputes over ownership, subdivision, and leadership have persisted for decades.

The conflict centres on allegations of fraudulent subdivision, creation of false registers, and misallocation of land and compensation funds to individuals described by residents as non-bona fide members.

In a related ruling delivered on January 16, 2025, Chief Magistrate Bernard Odengo, in Republic v. Simon Ngolekong Merii and Nine Others (Case No. E1006/2021), noted that attempts to resolve the dispute through mediation had failed.

“The mediation process unfortunately did not yield an agreement between the disputing parties, necessitating a full judicial hearing to resolve the matter comprehensively,” the court ruled.

Alleged irregularities and ignored warnings

Court documents and police correspondence paint a troubling picture of systemic failures in the land adjudication process.

A letter dated December 29, 2020, from the National Police Service to the Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement — obtained by Hubz Media — warned against the continued subdivision of Orwa Ranch, citing security concerns and reports that the adjudication office had been misled by a group of individuals.

Despite the advisory, the subdivision reportedly proceeded.

“The Orwa Ranch land was never properly declared for adjudication. The subdivision was carried out in secrecy and favoured a select group,” said Jackson Lokwen, a community leader.

The letter further faulted officials in the West Pokot Ministry of Lands for violating procedure and cited the alleged creation of a false register of Orwa Ranch members, a claim that has been echoed in court filings.

Judicial review and unanswered questions over funds

The dispute is also the subject of a judicial review application filed in 2019 under Republic v. Cabinet Secretary for Lands & Others (ELC Judicial Review No. 5 of 2019).

Applicants in the case argue that:

• A 2016 incorporation certificate issued to current Orwa Ranch representatives was illegal following the repeal of the Land (Group Representatives) Act, Cap 287.

• Ksh 38 million received from KETRACO remains unaccounted for.

• Bona fide members of the ranch were excluded from key decision-making processes.

The applicants have sought an injunction to stop any further transactions or subdivision of the land pending determination of the case.

Wider land injustices in West Pokot

The Orwa Ranch dispute reflects broader land governance challenges in West Pokot County. Similar allegations of double and triple land allocations have previously been raised in Endugh Location Adjudication Section, while disputes over irregular title issuance have emerged in Katikomor Group Ranch, raising concerns about institutional oversight.

Human rights activist Kimutai Kirui, who represents sections of the Orwa community, said residents remain hopeful that the courts will restore justice.

“We cannot allow such blatant disregard for the law to continue,” Kirui said. “Land is a critical community resource, and its mismanagement has long-term social and economic consequences. We have faith in the judiciary to deliver justice to the bona fide members of Orwa Group Ranch.”

Mining concerns compound community tensions

Land grievances in the area have also been compounded by concerns over illegal mining. Earlier this year, seven Chinese nationals were convicted by the Kapenguria Law Courts for engaging in unlawful mining activities along the Wei-Wei River in Sigor, Pokot Central Sub-County.

The suspects were arrested on February 12, 2025, during a joint operation by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mining Investigations Unit and the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, after authorities discovered intensive excavation without licences.

For Orwa residents, the convergence of land disputes, alleged fraud, and resource exploitation has deepened mistrust — and heightened the stakes as the courts take centre stage in determining the fate of their ancestral land.