NLC calls for arbitration of Kibiku land

The National Lands Commission has written to the Lands CS about the need to unite two splinter groups at the Keek-Onyokie community land trust in Kibiku, Ngong.

In a letter seen by the Star, NLC chairman Gershom Otachi told CS Zacharia Njeru that the situation at the community trust land in Kibiku is volatile owing to many issues.

“I refer to the previous correspondence from the commission indicating that the land in issue was not public land and advising that the matters should be handled at the ministry level,” the letter Ref No. 4329-40 dated January 3 read.

“I also refer to a subsequent letter from the Kajiado government raising several issues, including court cases referenced, which we may not be aware of since we are not in copy, mentioned or respondents.” 

Governor Joseph Lenku confirmed he received the December 15, letter and that he called the NLC boss to ask him why was the county not involved in the arbitration.

Otachi said he strongly feels that issues raised by the county should be resolved to achieve a win-win situation, in the interest of all stakeholders. 

“With further consultations and in the interest of the various stakeholders, it may be prudent that you put on hold the process on this matter, to allow further arbitration and engagement with all the stakeholders,” the NLC chairman said.

He said doing so, will allow an amicable settlement and a peaceful process in which the Keek-Onyokie community land trust members will finally get their titles.

“I further wish to request that we have an urgent meeting between yourself, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and myself to share key notes and relevant information both from the county and national government, that may be of great assistance in unlocking those issues,” he said.

Otachi said the meeting should be held, possibly within the next seven days.

The letter was copied to Lenku and the Keek-Onyokie land trustees.

The letter was written several hours after the Kajiado government called on Otachi, to delete all communications regarding the subdivision of the controversial Keek-Onyokie trust land.

Otachi said he has received several communications from the county in reference to the subdivision of the community land in Kibiku. 

Speaking to the Star on Tuesday afternoon, Lands executive Hamilton Parseina said the controversial trust land has a leasehold title and is managed by the county government.

He said if subdivision, planning and survey have to be carried out at the multi-billion community land on the 2,800 acres, the county government that is directly managing and overseeing it for the community must be involved.

“Allocation, approval of plans and subdivision of land is a long process venture and very costly. All that has not taken place at the Keek-Onyokie community land. I am happy that the leaders of a splinter group have denied having generated a list of allottees on 50 pages of paper,” Parseina said.

He said if the trust land was to be subdivided, all public parcels of land carved out of the 2,800 acres of land must be surrendered to the county government.

Those claiming they have subdivided the trust land, Parseina said, are lying to those who have sold them the parcels from the trust land.

Parseina claimed that the NLC chairman wrote to the county government on December 15, 2022, saying he had resolved all issues on the trust land through alternative dispute resolution.

The NLC boss said the letter he wrote on Tuesday withdraws the earlier one he did on December 15.

“What we are asking is, why didn’t the NLC involve us, as the Kajiado county government, in that ADR?” Parseina said.

The NLC chairman said he did not understand the status of the Kibiku land at the time, that it is a leasehold land managed by the county.

Common ADR processes include mediation, arbitration and neutral evaluation.

Parseina said several attempts by known people to grab the land have been thwarted by Lenku.

“We as a community could be shedding tears now if it was not for Lenku. As the county government, not a single inch of that land will be sold out to outsiders,” he said.

Governor Lenku wants EACC to investigate what he said were malpractices and illegal dealings of alleged fraudsters.

The governor also wants the EACC to interrogate some officers behind the submission of a fake list of the owners of the land to the Ministry of Lands.