Thursday, 22 May, 2025
Petitions Committee probes prolonged land settlement injustice in Nandi County
Wednesday 21st May, 2025Chepkumia, Nandi County
The National Assembly Public Petitions Committee, chaired by Vihiga Member of Parliament, Hon. Kivai Kagesi, conducted a fact finding visit to Emgwen Constituency to assess a petition concerning the long standing resettlement of the Koibem and Ngerek communities in Chepkumia Location, Nandi County.
The visit follows a petition submitted by Mr. Joel Songol and supported by Emgwen MP, Hon. Josses Lelmengit. The petition raises alarm over the protracted delay in issuing title deeds to Koibem residents and the failure to complete land adjudication for the Ngerek community.
According to the petitioners, the affected residents were relocated in 1996 after the government excised 910 hectares from the south of Nandi Forest to accommodate the resettlement of individuals who occupied the rocky and inhospitable terrains of Koibem.
The relocation was part of a government led initiative under the late President Daniel Arap Moi, aimed at restoring forest land while ensuring affected communities were resettled in safer and more habitable areas.
However, nearly three decades later, many of the original landowners remain without title deeds or proper land allocations.
The Committee first visited the Ngerek community, where Mr. Henry Kibiwot Kemboi, Vice Chairperson of the Ngerek Lands Committee recounted how the Ngerek was to be settled in the second phase of the relocation but were only met with arrest and harassment.
“The land meant for our resettlement has been grabbed by unknown individuals,” Mr. Kemboi stated. “We continue to live in forested areas and have been excluded from public services including roads, electricity, and recruitment opportunities.”
Mr. Leonard Shigda, speaking on behalf of the youth and professionals, on his part bemoaned the prolonged delay stating “When these promises were made, I was a young boy. I am now a grown man. How long shall we suffer?”
Mr. Tony Waweru Gathumbi, the County Coordinator of the National Land Commission, informed the Committee that the Commission had conducted due diligence and recognised the Ngerek community’s right to compensation.
Kenya Forest Service Station Manager, Mr. Collins Juma, on his part reiterated that the KFS had authorised the allocation of 465.4 hectares to the Ngerek community and 188.29 hectares for public utilities. However, he blamed political interference and the unauthorised addition of 300 hectares to the excised land for the lack of gazettement.
A Ministry of Lands surveyor admitted that there were no clear records on the current land occupants or allocations, prompting sharp questions from Committee members, who referenced documented agreements by the KFS and NLC. Physical planner Veronica Mosee added that the Ministry was awaiting formal degazettement of the land.
Hon. Kagesi urged immediate action, stating, “I call upon the Kenya Forest Service to gazette the 910 hectares initially agreed upon with the National Land Commission for settlement and to take necessary steps against the illegal allocation of the additional 300 hectares.”
The Committee then proceeded to Koibem, where residents expressed fears of a repeat of the Ngerek community’s experience. Mr. James Yego, Chairperson of the Koibem Lands Committee and member of the Council of Elders, provided a detailed account of the community’s plight.
He explained that the Koibem community voluntarily vacated their land in 1996 for forest conservation. They were temporarily evicted in 1998 but later resettled in 1999 under a land exchange scheme. Despite assurances by the County Land Management Board in 2014 and a formal land adjudication process initiated by the National Land Commission in 2015, the community has yet to receive title deeds.
He avers that in 2019, following hearings by the NLC on historical land injustices, a determination was made in favour of the community. However, 29 years on, the Koibem residents remain without formal ownership documents.
The land in question hosts 18 public utilities, including schools, health facilities, polytechnics, and markets.