Over 6,000 members of Rombo group ranch in Kajiado South Sub County are now proud legal owners of their land.
This is after the 100,000-acre ranch was successfully sub-divided and each of the members awarded a title deed for their piece of land, measuring 9-12 acres depending on the allocation.
Public institutions including primary and secondary schools, dispensaries and churches were also issued with title deeds to safeguard them from land grabbing.
Governor Joseph Lenku, while issuing the titles to the members, noted that the documents were a proof of ownership and residents were now free to develop their land and better themselves economically.
Lenku said the documents were now acceptable in banks and other financial institutions and beneficiaries should use them to secure loans to educate their children.
“It has been sad that people were unable to educate their children, yet they have large tracks of land. This must now change for the better,” he said.
However, the governor called on the beneficiaries to desist from the temptation of selling their land, but instead develop it so as to empower themselves economically.
Lenku further reaffirmed his commitment in protecting and defending public and private land from unscrupulous brokers and corrupt land officials, adding that they had recovered many acres of public land that had been grabbed by private developers.
He added that over 28,000 title deeds and allotment letters had been issued so far, after his government embarked on land reforms to straighten the land’s sector, which had been riddled with corruption and brokers.
Members who were awarded the title deeds expressed their joy after receiving the documents, adding that their property was now secure.
One of the beneficiaries, Karaine Ole Saroni revealed that each member can now freely develop their piece of land and even put-up permanent structures as they had become legal owners.
“We have suffered over the years, but now that we have the title deeds, life will change for the better. We are now free to develop our land as we want and even seek for loans from banks,” he said.
By Rop Janet
