A group of elderly widows in Eldoret, some over 85 years old, are in a fierce dispute over three commercial plots in Naiberi worth about Sh20 million. Members of the Losirwa Women Co-operative Society claim the land was allocated to them in 1989 but has been encroached on by new buyers allegedly aided by Lands officials. The women say a virtual court ruling against them was unfair as they could not access the proceedings. They now threaten a naked protest and a march to President Ruto’s home, accusing officials of collusion. The case highlights land ownership disputes, digital justice barriers for the elderly, and the persistence of land grabbing claims in Kenya.
Some of the grannies display a title for the disputed land outside the lands office in Eldoret, /MATHEWS
NDANYI
A group of elderly women, some more than 85 years old, stormed the lands office in Eldoret on Wednesday to protest grabbing of a prime land in Naiberi trading centre, Uasin Gishu county.
The members of the Losirwa Women Co-operative Society claimed the three plots, valued at about Sh20 million, are theirs.
They said they inherited the plots in 1989 from their deceased husbands, who were shareholders in Naiberi Farm Ltd.
During the protest, they displayed a title deed registered
as Kaptagat/Kaptagat Block 1 (Losirwa) 137, issued in September 2018,
naming three trustees on behalf of the group.
Chairperson Elizabeth Sang said the alleged land grabber encroached on their property, dismissing the elderly women as “illiterate and powerless".
Matters escalated after Ministry of Lands surveyors allegedly erected new beacons, ignoring the originals.
The group went to court to block the survey but were later shocked to learn the case had been heard virtually, without their participation and ruled against them.
“We are widows; this land is our livelihood,” said 83-year-old Veronica Koros. “If they think they can take it because we’re old, we’ll camp there naked until it’s returned.”
Another member, Trufena Sammy, accused lands officials of colluding with grabbers. Frustrated after waiting for more than two hours without meeting a senior official, the women vowed to return — and escalate their protest.
They now plan to march to President William Ruto’s home and have appealed to Chief Justice Martha Koome to review their case, saying the virtual court process discriminates against the elderly.
Lands Registrar Alice Gesemba said the matter would be handled according to laid-down procedures but declined further comment.
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