A total of 21,000 land owners in Baringo County whose parcels were demarcated 25 years ago were yesterday issued with title deeds by the county government.
Issuing the vital documents outside his Kabarnet office, governor Stanley Kiptis thanked the people for remaining patient as the department of lands processed the titles to legalize their land ownership.
Mr Kiptis accompanied by county executive committee (CEC) for Land Thomas Ole Nongonop lauded the officials from department of Lands led by director of Adjudication John Laku and National Land Commission (NLC) for working tirelessly to ensure that the deeds were processed.
“We are glad that Baringo people have finally gotten their titles and they can now start to undertake various development projects by using them to borrow loans,” Kiptis said.
The residents who received the titles hail from Baringo Central, Baringo North and Baringo South sub counties.
Mr Nongonop thanked the governor for availing funds to the Lands department to undertake the rigorous process that had lasted for long. “We need more funds to undertake land clinics to sensitize residents on land adjudication, planning, leasing and registration since the funds available are not enough,” he said.
He promised to issue more than 13,000 title deeds across the county before the end of the year as a way of empowering the residents.
The governor took the opportunity to strongly warn land grabbers who have illegally possessed public utility lands that include a cemetery and market space in Marigat town that they will soon face the full force of the law.
An 80-year-old beneficiary Erick Ngetich from Barwessa location could not hide his joy as he thanked the governor for ensuring they got the vital document. “We are happy that now we have our title deeds and we thank you, governor Kiptis and the committees for helping us achieve our dreams since 1996,” Ngetich said.
Bartabwa MCA Rueben Chepsongol who attended the function asked the governor to fast- track land adjudication in other areas of the county to ensure more residents receive their land titles.
By Caroline Cherono
