Rift Valley regional commissioner George Natembeya has ordered families residing at a Chepchoina farm without valid documents to vacate the land with immediate effect and leave the land for genuine land owners.
Natembeya claimed that of the 2000 Acres belonging to Agricultural Development Co-operation (ADC),1700 acres of the land has been grabbed by individuals. The outspoken regional commissioner said the land grabbing was rampant in Trans-Nzoia county. He called on the two county commissioners for Trans-Nzoia and West Pokot counties to do a thorough follow that will unearth the truth on who grabbed the land
Natembeya while touring the land of Chepchoina ordered for demolitions of illegal structures on the farm noting that some people have a habit of grabbing public land claiming some of the individuals are people who are well off in the society as they have taken advantage of the poor by even stealing what’s rightfully theirs
Locals claim they were given land by former governments but could not till the land as they were being evicted by individual from neighboring county who attack, destroy their property and others end up dying in the clashes.
Last month a person was killed by criminals when he had toured his farm at Kavoto area of Chepchoina farm in preparation for ploughing when he was attacked by a gang of people who shot him dead. It is believed the gang had intruded the farm and ordered the deceased not to step on the land.
Locals expressed displeasure in the manner security agencies were handling security concerns of the area claiming some security personnel’s were the beneficiaries as they had been ploughing the farm at the expense of genuine landlords.
However, Trans-Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba and his West Pokot counterpart Professor John Lonyangapuo attacked the ministry of lands office over what they termed as delay in issuing land title deeds as well as giving titles to several individuals bearing same land which they claimed had only helped spur chaos.
Governor Khaemba claimed cartels have infiltrated in land matters as several people are using the evil deeds to corn unsuspecting rightful individuals of their hard earned money . they governor called upon the national government to make sure the problems bedeviling Trans-Nzoia residents are brought to an end.
He claims people have even grabbed public land at his office wondering how they got title deeds for the land.
Professor Lonyangapuo on the other hand called upon the genuine land owners to return back to their land and avoid being absentee landlords that only helps cartels
intrude in their farms
Speaking at the same function, West Pokot senator Samuel Poghisho appealed to all the
communities in the farm to remain peaceful urging them to avoid cattle rustling and fighting. The sentiments were echoed by Natembeya who issued a stern warning to individuals inciting residents of Chepchoina against each other.
