The government has rolled out the issuance of title deeds under the titling program for over 1,000 members of the troubled Akuisi Farmers’ Cooperative in Solai, within Subukia Sub-County.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya said the national government will ensure that all genuine members of the cooperative benefit from the titling program ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The once giant entity has had long running leadership wrangles with its leadership fending off allegations from members over mismanagement of assets and misappropriation of funds.
Shareholders have also for years accused the land buying company directors of irregularly selling parts of the 1,200-acre farm in Solai as well as derailing the title issuance program.
The ongoing titling programme is being undertaken by the county government in conjunction with the national government. So far, more than 100,000 title deeds have been processed in Nakuru.
Under the program, the county government has also issued 7,000 title deeds to Naivasha residents and another 6,500 to land owners in Gilgil Sub-County.
Akuisi is one of the companies whose members the head of state had directed that they benefit from the ongoing accelerated titling programme within the devolved unit.
Launching the issuance of the title deeds at Akuisi Secondary School, Mr. Natembeya cautioned the Company’s management against engaging in fraudulent activities tailored to lock out genuine beneficiaries.
He particularly singled out chairman to the society Joseph Githaiga as an individual who will be held ‘criminally responsible’ if missing names of some members were not submitted to the land’s registrar.
“We are committed to putting to an end the dangerous circus that has been frustrating Akuisi members in the process of acquiring land ownership documents,” said Natembeya .
The chairman risks facing criminal charges before a court of law if he engages in maneuvers that will amount to sabotaging the head of state’s directive” asserted the administrator.
Natembeya called on public servants at both county and national level tasked with overseeing implementation of the titling program to ensure that the exercise was carried out fairly, transparently and in full adherence to the law.
The administrator warned public servants who will be caught engaging in corrupt practices aimed at denying bonafide land owners title deeds that they will be promptly dealt with.
“A title deed is not only proof of ownership but also a catalyst to economic empowerment as it can be used to get loans.”
Natembeya said that any action in the titling program that amounts to defiance of government policies will not be taken kindly.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui has in the past lamented that the programme was being frustrated by the high number of land ownership wrangles land dispute spending in Nakuru courts adding that more than 50 per cent of cases in courts across the county revolved around land.
“The many land cases pending in courts have prompted the Nakuru County government to train mediators to help resolve the disputes and hasten the issuance of title deeds to residents.
Majority of these matters can be put to rest through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms instead of filing court cases. The ongoing titling programme benefits more residents if they avoid litigation,” said the County Boss.
By Jane Ngugi
