Two plots in the centre of a dispute between the Migori government and the Catholic Church belong to the church, the Lands ministry has said.
Edward Bosire, county registrar of lands, said the church has owned the two parcels at Rapogi in Uriri and Kitere in Rongo since 1948.
“It is without any contradiction that the ministry stands with the fact that the land is still owned by the church and it is still reserved as an agricultural farm which it was intended for,” he said.
Bosire spoke in an interview in his office on Tuesday.
Last week, Governor Okoth Obado accused the Lands office of colluding with church officials to register the land under the church.
Obado said the land at Kitere Youth Polytechnic belongs to the county.
Under the constitution, all polytechnics are managed by the county government.
Church members and officials last Friday protested against the county government for destroying ridges that had been prepared for farming.
They were led by the chief administrator of Homa Bay diocese, Michael Wade, Michael Odiwa (Vicar General), Patrick Nyarombo (Rapogi), Gregory Otenga
(Migori) and Thomas Mboya (Awendo).
The church and the county government are also claiming ownership of another parcel of land at Macalder in Nyatike subcounty.
Bosire said the church has won several lawsuits over the pieces of land.
