A family in Kiptagich ward in Kuresoi South constituency is counting losses after their houses were torched in a protracted land disputed.

The suspected arson attack occurred at Tachasis village when armed gangs of youth descended on the homestead and doused it with petrol before setting it on ablaze.

Several houses on the 10-acre land, which had been the subject of a protracted ownership row, were reduced to ashes.

The family of Justin Aengwo blamed the incident on a person whom he said had on several occasions attempted to evict him from the land.

Aengwo said he purchased the land and got the documents in 1999 only for the suspect to appear later with forged documents and started laying claim on its ownership.

The victim said the late night raid was well planned adding that the youths were armed with crude weapons including buttons, bows and arrows.

Aengwo added that the youths had jerricans that contained petrol which they sprinkled on the structures within the homestead before they lit the fire.

The distraught Aengwo who expressed fear for his life called on the police to act swiftly and apprehend the suspect.

 Aengwo who recently came from abroad said the suspect had influence in some government circles and especially at the Ministry of Lands head office in Nairobi where he obtained fraudulent documents which he has been using to claim the land.

The complainant added that some other well connected individuals were also in possession of fake land documents which they have been using to grab other people’s land.

Aengwo said the crooks were using documents that had been back dated to disposes people of their property.