County seeks Delamere land row parties

Delamere estates managing director Nelson Rotich speaks to the press at the land that has been grabbed by a private developer near Delarmere shopping centre along the Nakuru- Nairobi highway. He said the developer arrived over the weekend and threatened some staff who were working on the land at the time prompting them to inform the police.PHOTO:ANTONY GITONGA

Officers from the Criminal investigation department are investigating the land dispute between Delamere Estate and a private investor.

The county and national governments also summoned the two parties involved in the row over the ownership of the four-acre plot in Naivasha on Monday evening.

This came as Delamere staff sought the assistance of police to remove construction materials from the site.  And as this was going on, the private developer also ferried his own security to the site.

The private developer, Madisurp Investment Company started works at the weekend.

Naivasha Sub-county Commissioner Abraham Kemboi confirmed they had summoned the two parties to resolve the issue. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Kemboi, however, expressed concern that the private developer was yet to honour the summons several hours after the directive was issued.

“We and the county government have summoned both parties with their documents, but unfortunately it’s only the Delameres who have turned up,” he said.

Speaking on phone, Naivasha MP John Kihagi termed the issue as very sensitive saying he was keenly following the saga. He said Naivasha had tens of land ownership issues and that the Parliamentary Committee on Land in which he is a member was investigating some of them.

“I will also ask ownership documents of the parcel of this land from all parties and we are treating the issue with the urgency it deserves,” he said. Delamere Estate Security Manager Geoffrey Mito said they had started removing the construction materials ferried to the site and ejecting hired youths who were working on the disputed land.

“The other party has defied orders to produce his ownership documents and we are now moving in to reclaim our land,” he said.

County Executive for lands Rachel Maina said the issue was being investigated, adding that the genuine owner of the land can only be known after verification of the ownership documents.

“The county government is not involved in allocating land but we have details and officers to determine who owns what and where,” she said.

On Monday, police moved to the site and directed the investor to move out. Delamere Estates Managing Director Nelson Rotich said the Delamere family has owned the land for over 100 years and has always paid land rates for it. But Joseph Nduati, a director at Madisurp Investments, alleged that they acquired the land 15 years ago from the defunct Naivasha Municipal Council.