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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been asked to crack the whip on chiefs meddling in land matters in Kakamega East sub-county.

Residents of Ilesi and Kambiri locations in Shinyalu constituency have accused local chiefs of interfering in succession cases and defrauding families of land in dubious transactions. 

In a petition to Kindiki, Kambiri resident Saul Ashiachi accused Chief Caleb Natili of providing false information in introductory letters in succession matters.

In one such letter in the succession matter of the late Lowe Ambei, Natili allegedly listed his wife Phyllis Simiyu, a primary school teacher, as one of the beneficiaries. A chief’s letter is critical in succession matters as it identifies the rightful heirs and properties of deceased persons to avoid fraud.

“Feigning ignorance and including his friends or relatives amounts to corrupting the synergies between your office and the courts,” Ashiachi said in the letter to Kindiki dated June 13, which is also copied to Chief Justice Martha Koome, the DCI and the Kakamega High Court Registrar.

The late Lowe’s son, Andrew Nandwa, has disowned some names allegedly included by the chief in the succession matter.

Reached for comment, Natili dismissed the accusations, describing Asiachi as a notorious mudslinger.  

“This man is always writing letters to the minister,” he said.