The KDF land has been at the centre of controversy with more than 1,000 families of squatters claiming ownership.
A year ago, three people were shot dead during confrontation with KDF officers who had moved to erect beacons on the land, popularly known as the Kiplombe 9 farms. The squatters have been occupying part of the land for many years.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said the KDF land saga was one of the mega land disputes they discussed with Lands Cabinet Secretary Zacharia Mwangi who was in Eldoret to visit sites for planned government projects, including the affordable housing projects.
“We have requested the CS to help us look into the land problems which many times threaten security in affected areas,” Bii said.
He said they had also discussed the EATEC land saga, where groups of squatters are claiming more than 25,000 acres of land which is currently owned by the family of former nominated MP the Mark Too (deceased).
The vast prime land covers a huge part of Eldoret town near the Eldoret International Airport and also Moi University.
The land is considered important for the growth of Eldoret town and the matter is currently at the Supreme Court after Too’s family appealed against earlier court rulings.
Another mega land dispute in the town is the land on which lies the Langas estate, which has more than 300,000 residents and covers almost half of the town. A family moved to court and successfully won ownership of the land.
Hundreds of residents have homes on the land, which also has government institutions, including colleges, schools, police stations and hospitals. None of the occupants, however, has a title deed for the land they occupy because the family in court proved it has the mother title.
However, the county is grappling with the challenge of evicting the occupants or compensating the aggrieved family at an estimated cost of Sh6 billion plus other accrued benefits.
“These are the main issues we discussed with the CS concerning land in this region and we have also asked him to expedite issuance of land titles where necessary,”Bii said.
Mwangi said he had instructed his officers to expedite the issuance of land titles in the county that is home to President William Ruto. He promised that the land disputes listed by the county would be dealt with as a matter of priority.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
