- She said her ministry has received inquiries about whether there is a possibility of consideration to buy the land or to settle people who are living on the land.
- Wahome said the government will not be involved in settling the issue with the family or the claimant.
Image: KEITH MUSEKE
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has said the government has no intention of buying off the parcel of land belonging to the Kirima family to settle those laying claim on it.
The CS said records available with the ministry show that the parcel of land measuring over 1,000 acres belongs to the family of Kirima.
“Our records are fairly historical and lengthy, showing those entries. The records indicate clearly that the land belongs to the Kirima family through Gerishon Kirima,” she said.
Wahome, who was flanked by PS Nixon Korir, said her ministry has received inquiries about whether there is a possibility of consideration by the government to buy the land or to settle people who are living on the land.
"This land is about 1,000 acres; we have no such plans, and there is no instruction to that extent," she said.
"The land belongs to Kirima, and the government has nothing to do with any occupation on that land safe for public utility that may have been surrendered.”
Wahome addressed the press at her office when she gave the details about the ownership of the contested parcel.
Environment and Land Court Judge Samson Okong'o, in his judgment delivered on October 23, found that former Starehe MP Gerishon Kirima is the rightful owner of the property.
Justice Okong'o gave them up to December 31, 2023, to vacate and hand over possession of the property to the estate of Kirima.
“If they fail to do so, the estate is at liberty to evict them from the property,” Okong'o ruled.
Wahome said the government will not be involved in settling the issue with the family or the claimant.
“Those affected will deal with the family, the court, and the enforcement agencies,” she said.
Wahome said the fraudsters and conmen will deal with the DCI.
“If you are a purchaser, you now know the owner of the land,” Wahome reiterated, urging the tenants to look for places to move into.
She said public utilities that had been surrendered have also been encroached upon and occupied.
The public utilities, including dispensaries, schools, and roads, among others, had been surrendered.
She warned, however, that the law would catch up with those who harbour such intentions.
The CS said the manner in which structures have been put up does not pass lawful approvals from the ministry or the county government.
“Even as they think of how to engage whoever is on the land, some of the things they will have to do are planning. We will offer technical support,” she said, adding that some of the structures are health hazards.
PS Korir said the state will reclaim all public utilities.
“Anyone who has encroached on public utilities ought to surrender. We do not want to go back to what happened in Portland, but the President has made it clear and given us instructions as the ministry to work with all the agencies like EACC and DCI to ensure that we recover all public utilities,” Korir said.
He said the state will not compromise with those who have grabbed public utilities for hospitals, markets, and schools.
The PS warned the public against being hoodwinked by fraudsters.
“If the Kirima family decides to engage with the people sitting on the land, it is on the buyer-seller agreement. The fact is, the land belongs to Kirima,” Korir said.
Korir said the judgment revealed there were people who had purchased land formally from the family, and they were entitled to it.