Residents of the Chepchoina settlement scheme in Trans Nzoia County have petitioned the National Assembly to probe the alleged irregular allocation of land and fraudulent issuance of title deeds.
In a petition presented on their behalf by Endebes MP Robert Pukose, the residents claimed over 600 offer letters were offered to private developers in August 2023.
“The squatters already settled in Chepchoina Phase III for 29 years are facing looming evictions,” the petition reads in part.
The petitioners said those who received allotment letters between 2021 and 2023 are using authorities to evict others who have resided and developed their farms in the last 29 years having been identified as landless and settled by the government in 1994.
“Settlement officers in Kitale have continued to discharge and transfer parcels already developed and settled, including demanding bribes of up to Sh500,000 from those who request to be given their parcels back,” the petitioners claimed.
They further claimed that settlement officers sell land to unsuspecting Kenyans with a promise that squatters already settled in the farms will be evicted for them.
There are over 3,000 settlers residing in the Chepchoina (Phase I, II, and III) Settlement Scheme in Trans Nzoia.
The petitioners prayed that the House, through the Public Petitions Committee, recommend investigations into the irregular, illegal and double allocation of settlement land in Chepchoina.
They also prayed that the committee investigate fraudulent issuance of title deeds and demands for bribes for government services.
“Recommend that squatters who have settled for more than 29 years in Chepchoina Phase III be given priority during settlement of residents in the area,” they pleaded.
They further asked the committee to recommend investigations into the conduct of settlement officers for failing to adhere to the Land Act and Leadership and Integrity Act in the course of their duties while resettling residents and appropriate action be taken.
