Sakaja in process to resolve Kirima land stalemate

Nairobi county government will commence a thorough verification exercise in the Njiru land owned by Kirima family as part of efforts to unlock the current stalemate.

During a meeting yesterday between Governor Johnson Sakaja and representatives of various occupants, it was agreed that the process to ascertain the status of the occupation of each specific parcel of land to commence forthwith.

“ The importance of undertaking this exercise is to protect the sanctity of title and safeguard property rights while addressing issues such as: loss of land revenue, poor infrastructure and service facilities, public health and safety issue, haphazard urban development and economic inefficiencies In land use and development,” said acting County Secretary Patrick Analo.

Topographical survey

According to Analo, the county will conduct a topographical survey depicting the settlements as built.

Submission of subdivision plans for approval by the county government will also take place.

Determination of fair market value of land for compensation purposes and issuance of ownership documents will also take place.

“ Portions of land designated for public amenities such as roads, wayleaves, schools, hospitals, markets, playgrounds, easements etc shall be appropriately identified and vested with relevant public institutions,” said Analo.

Analo further said that the meeting resolved to temporarily halt any further developments activities on land until above conditions are met.

“ The county government shall refrain from permitting any construction or advancements on the specified parcel,” he said.’

Ealy this week, Sakaja  reaffirmed his commitment to stand with the Kirima land occupants as he vowed to bypass brokers he said are stumbling blocks in the negotiation process.

 Sakaja said as a county they will only deal directly with the Kirima family in settling the matter on the purchase of the plots being occupied by the settlers.

Urgent resolution

 According to the county boss, the particular individuals claiming to be the administrators of the property have continued to weigh down the urgent resolution of the problem.

 He said as a county they will only deal directly with the Kirima family in settling the matter on the purchase of the plots being occupied by the settlers.

  “For us, we are dealing with the family which the courts said are the owners. The owner is represented by the lawyers. These other people we don’t know who they are, they are not lawyers, they are not appointed agents,” he said.

Meanwhile, a human rights organisation in the North Rift region has invited the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate police brutality meted out against dozens of families facing eviction from a disputed piece of land they have been living on for over two decades.

The more than 700-acre farm situated along the border of Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties has been under dispute between a retired District Officer, Jeremiah Cheruiyot, and a retired teacher Michael Bett Siror.

Kimutai Kirui, the Centre Against Torture (CAT) coordinator asked Ipoa to dispatch a team of investigators to the area to assess the situation and recommend prosecution of the police officers behind the eviction and destruction of property at the Tunen farm.

Disputed farm

The human rights defender accused the officer Commanding Kachibora police station for declaring curfew at the disputed farm whose market value is estimated at Sh1.6 billion.

He condemned the recent eviction that took place at the parcel of land where a group armed with crude weapons including bows and arrows under the protection of police officers demolished houses and toilets in a bid to kick out families from the property.

“We want to know where the OCS Kachibora police station got the powers to impose a curfew on the farm which hosts hundreds of settlers,” said Kirui.

Kirui said the affected families have never known peace since last year due to constant brutality and eviction at the hands of the police officers during the curfew.

Josepha Barno, one of the victims of police brutality said they have nowhere to seek help since police officers stationed at Kachibora police station have been compromised by the retired teacher who has laid claim on the multi-billion shillings property.

But Siror distanced himself from the woes facing the families saying that he was only protecting his land from being invaded by illegal settlers.