Over 1,000 members of the Nyakinyua land buying company have petitioned the Ministry of Lands to intervene over the ownership of a vast parcel of land in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha.

Members of the team include grannies who at one time entertained the late President Jomo Kenyatta.

They allege the 15,000 acres have been taken over by influential traders. Under the Kiambu-Nya- kinyua Farmers Company limited, the women claim that over 80 percent of the land has been sold for use around the multi- billion industrial park.

The land buying company was formed in the early 1970s by 1,403 women and to date they are yet to receive title deeds despite a court order establishing that they are the bona fide members.

One of the complainants, Lydia Njung’e, whose mother was a member of the land buying company, says a cartel had taken advantage of the SGR and the industrial park to sell the land to investors.

Speaking during a peaceful demonstration, she noted that the cartel that was claiming to be directors of the company had gone ahead to dispose of the land, locking out the real members.

“This company was started by our parents, many of whom have died and some few individuals who claim to be the directors have sold over 80 percent of the land,” she said.