Nandi to repossess 100 grabbed public plots

Nandi county will evict thieves of grabbed public land if they don’t surrender property by the expiration of a 21-day deadline.

Governor Stephen Sang has said the county requires its land to develop public facilities and even if it didn’t, grabbers have no right to the land. More than 100 plots around the county are targeted.

On Tuesday Lands and Environment boss Benard Lagat said the county executive committee had passed a resolution to repossess the grabbed land for use by the county on behalf of residents.

“We issued a 21 days’ notice and wrote to those involved. We will implement the cabinet decision,” Lagat told the Star in Eldoret.

He said the county was facing a serious shortage of land to develop schools, hospitals, dips and other facilities.

The county will repossess 21 prime plots in Kapsabet town, which is the county headquarters, and seven other plots in Nandi Hills town.

The county has also listed six grabbed conservation areas.

They include wetlands in Mugundoi, the Kapngoriom Swamp, Nyando escarpment, the Kingwal Wetlands and Koyo Hills.

A public notice said those claiming to own the land must provide ownership documents within 21 days.

Lagat said some of those involved had gone to court but the county would respond and that those involved would still have to prove to the court how they acquired public land.

He said the county was re-surveying all public land so that it's secured and title deeds issued.

A month ago Sang was arrested and charged in Kisumu after he led the people to destroy uproot tea bushes on land in Kibware tea which he said was public land grabbed by influential individuals.

The governor said the land was meant for a cattle dip.

(Edited by V. Graham)