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A Cabinet Secretary has sensationally claimed that a retired primary school teacher attempted to bribe him with 100 acres of prime land in Eldoret.

Defence CS Aden Duale claimed a son to the retired teacher, who is at the centre of a 3,500-acre land ownership dispute with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Recruits Training School offered him the 100 acres in exchange for an undisclosed favour.

Duale who led a team of top national and county leaders to the land last week is said to have asked the retired teacher, Wilson Chepsilonge, 82, to keep off the property terming him an inciter.

The leaders who accompanied Duale include Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddyson Nyale, area Governor Jonathan Bii, Senator Jackson Mandago and Turbo MP Janet Sitienei.

The event was at the ‘Nine Farms’ field in Kiplombe area in Uasin Gishu county which is part of the land that is in ownership dispute pitting the local community and the KDF.

Duale in his remarks was heard mentioning Chepsilonge, and even daring him to submit his documents to the land ministry for verification.

“There is a man called Chepsilonge, he is from Kapsabet. I want you to tell him, if the title he has is original, I want him to go to the National Land Commission (NLC) office yesterday (Tuesday) to tell them to verify the paper. We are ready to present evidence that the document that the cartels, led by Chepsilonge, are carrying around is fake,” said Duale.

The CS also accused Chepsilonge’s son of sending a message to him (Duale) and Lands PS Nixon Korir seeking their ‘help’ over the disputed land.

Duale revealed that Chepsilonge’s son offered 100 acres to him in return for the unnamed favour.

“Our KDF has firm instructions to deal with Chepsilonge. I will deal with him. I want to help you all to get title deeds. When you see Chepsilonge, take a cane and chase him away. Are you ready to chase Chepsilonge away? How many are ready to chase Chepsilonge away,” posed the CS to the ululation from the excited crowd.

Chepsilonge has since recorded a statement with the police at Eldoret Central police station over threats to his life.

Chepsilonge now says that he fears for his life following Duale’s warning to keep off the disputed property.

Chepsilonge caused a stir at the station while in the company of human right defenders led by Kimutai Kirui of Centre Against Torture.

He was ushered to the report desk where he was taken through the process of statement taking before he was allowed to leave the police station.

The former tutor was compelled to record a statement with the police following utterances against him attributed to the CS while on a one day tour of the disputed land.

Speaking to the media in Eldoret town after recording his statement, Chepsilonge claimed that some strange individuals have been trailing him adding that he has never had peace since the CS mentioned his name in public over the disputed property.

“Some strange individuals have been following me wherever I go and even they kidnapped one of my grandsons but luckily he was not harmed,” lamented Chepsilonge.

He claimed that cartels were interested in their 3,500 acre parcel of land that has a membership of 500 beneficiaries which he chairs.

“We paid all land rates amounting to Sh26 million and we have all the documents to the land, we have no issues with military land in question because ours is different,” he said.