More than 45,000 residents within the fringes of Mau Forest are set to get land title deeds after the High Court lifted an over 25-year caveat on the land.
Lands and Physical Planning PS Nixon Korir said following the High Court move, the National Government was deliberating with the Nakuru County Government on the way forward in land mapping and issuance of title deeds in areas where the caveat was lifted.
Speaking during a meeting between Government officials and residents to facilitate the process of re-establishing boundaries and issuing title deeds as directed by the Court at Kapsinendet area within Mariashoni Ward in Molo Sub-County, Korir expressed optimism that locals will now develop their parcels of land after years of stagnation.
The PS said the Ministry of Lands and the Nakuru County administration were working closely to have the land adjudication completed in the Sub-County, adding that the meeting had resolved on the formation of committees that will oversee the implementation of the Court’s directives.
Korir was happy that the lifting of the caveats will enable landowners in various parts of Eastern Mau access loans and other facilities to undertake development.
He also urged the would be beneficiaries to use the title deeds to empower themselves economically, saying the documents will now lead to appreciation of land in the region, which will boost economic growth.
The PS pointed out that the acquisition of legal land ownership documents will empower residents to fully utilize their land for productive purposes, such as agriculture and other income-generating activities, consequently, stimulating economic growth and improving the livelihoods of the affected communities.
“A title deed is not only proof of ownership, but also a catalyst to economic empowerment as it can be used to get loans,” noted the PS.
Korir however cautioned the residents against disposing off their huge parcels of land at a throw away price and later remaining landless after squandering all the money obtained from the sale of land.
He challenged the locals to utilize their huge chunks of land wisely to plant crops like sunflower, pyrethrum, potatoes, maize, beans and peas that do well in the area.
“When you produce enough food for your family and sell the rest to earn an income, you will not have time to be incited to war by selfish politicians who thrive in crisis,” he said.
The caveat was imposed on various parts of the South Rift due to protracted land disputes, and also as a way of stopping illegal land transactions around Mau Forest.
The areas that have benefited from the lifting of the caveat include the six settlement schemes of Neissuit, Mariashoni, Sururu, Likia, Sigotik, and Terit.
Nakuru Deputy governor David Kones underscored the County’s commitment to addressing land issues, particularly in the regions of Kuresoi North, South, Njoro, and Molo Sub-Counties, where land caveats have hindered economic progress.
He called on the locals to utilize their land in building commercial structures or use it for farming, so as to earn a decent livelihood.
The county executive for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, John Kihagi said he was optimistic that title deeds will now help check land grabbing and end land disputes in addition to ensuring land security.
He said to ensure transparency in the titling process, committees representing each of the six villages have been formed to work alongside government officials in verifying land claims and protecting residents’ rights including identifying and securing essential amenities, such as schools and markets to ensure they benefit the entire community.
Kihagi regretted that the families from the settlement scheme had suffered as they were unable to access financial loans to develop their land since the 1980s due to lack of collateral, adding that issuance of title deeds will offer security of land tenure that is pivotal in opening up the area for commercial ventures and precisely in real estate.
Nakuru hosts numerous settlement schemes established shortly after independence. Until the late 1990s, a majority of the beneficiaries only held allotment letters with prolonged disputes and lack of proper organizational structure remaining a major challenge on the resident’s clamor for the legal documents.
The county executive observed that there were many petitions from residents, whose continued stay on their respective parcels without the documents left them uncertain.
“There is a growing concern over the lack of security of tenure from residents. We are racing against time to unlock the backlog in title deeds issuance,” he said.
Kihagi further explained that due to many land cases pending in courts, the County government had trained mediators to help resolve the disputes and hasten the issuance of title deeds to residents, adding that land cases could easily be solved through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as opposed to filing court cases.
The meeting was graced by the Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi, Nakuru Women Representative Liza Chelule, Njoro MP Charity Kathambi and her counterparts Alfred Mutai (Kuresoi North), Johana Ngeno (Emurrua Dikir), Paul Chebor (Rongai), Joseph Tonui (Kuresoi South), as well as the area Member of County Assembly Bernard Langat.
By Esther Mwangi
