State Department for Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Mr. Nixon Korir has formed a committee to look into the land issues concerning squatters residing in the Chelimo area in Ainamoi Constituency, Kericho County.
The committee comprises members from the Kericho County Commissioner’s office, the National Police Service, the Office of the Governor, the Lands Office Surveyor, the National Land Commission, and the area MCA.
The committee has been tasked to address the issues surrounding land including coming up with a list of genuine squatters who will be issued with title deeds.
Speaking during a public forum at Kevoko, Chelimo village, Mr. Korir assured the mentioned squatters that once the genuine owners of the parcels of land are established, they will be allotted the pieces of land equally and also issued with title deeds.
The PS said the expansive land bordering Kericho town and tea estates will be hived out for the expansion of Kericho town which includes land meant for the building of an industrial park, and other public utilities like schools, chief’s camp, police post, health facility and roads, among others.
“Today we have held a successful public baraza with the residents of Kevoko, Chelimo area in Kericho to sort out the land dispute between the residents, private land speculators, and the County government of Kericho,” said Mr. Korir.
The Lands PS appealed to groups and individuals who have gone to the court over the Chelimo land to urgently withdraw the land cases to allow smooth allocation and distribution of land to the rightful beneficiaries.
“I have listened to the four groups claiming ownership of this land who in their speeches have resolved to unite and have one group at the same time agreeing to withdraw the court cases to allow the government to start the process of identification of the actual beneficiaries, paving way for demarcation and allocation of land to the rightful beneficiaries,” added Korir.
Speaking at the function, Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai assured the squatters that deserving cases will not be left out in the exercise and assured them that his County will offer services like road improvement and a health center in the area.
The residents asked the government to demarcate the land and issue them with title deeds to actualize their lives saying they had lagged behind development wise because of fear of eviction.
Chelimo land has for long been under dispute between the squatters, the defunct Kericho Municipal Council, and the national government that wanted to build a showground.
Also present at the forum were the Kericho County Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Ainamoi Member of Parliament Benjamin Langat, and several Kericho Members of the County Assembly.
By Dominic Cheres and Kibe Mburu
