Land grabbing, a Kenyan disease

Cases of rampant land acquisition through illegal means have increased in the present day Kenya. Land is an important asset for development and one of the factors of production. But why would some individuals be so greedy to the extent of forcefully acquiring land without following the due procedures of ownership?

These acts demonstrate high levels of impunity by corrupt powerful individuals and leaders who do not mind the common mwananchi even though they were elected to protect the citizens’ interests.

Majority of Kenyans have decried and condemned alleged grabbing of their land by ‘powerful land cartels’ in the recent past. From the Lang’ata Primary School playground seizure for ‘private development’ to alleged snatching of Oljorai ranch in Nakuru to Waitiki land in the coast, it is clear that the land problem is now endemic.

The controversial land meant for the expansion of the Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital (MTRH) is also currently under dispute in court with members of the Keiyo teachers sacco claiming the land was taken away from them. According to an article in the standard on Thursday, the teachers said they purchased the land in 2004 from the National social security fund (NSSF) but 2 years later, the Eldoret prison ejected them from the parcel demanding ownership. The real owner of the land is yet to be determined as the case is pending in the Environment & lands court in Eldoret.

The National Land Commission (NLC) is now under intense pressure to solve the overwhelming land cases arising daily owing to failure of the government to implement the TJRC report on historical land injustices. Earlier this year the government embarked on digitization of key land transactions to boost efficiency and help curb graft in the land sector. This process has not improved the grabbing of land in Kenya as cases of alleged take hold of parcels of land make headlines daily.

Bomet governor Isaac Ruto recently claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta gave a ‘fake’ title deed for a piece of land meant to construct a public university in the region. So, if the president can be accused of dishing out illegal title deeds who can the public trust? NLC which is mandated by the constitution to manage public land was not involved in the issuance of the title deed.

There is need for mindset change among leaders and gluttonous individuals who perpetuate land crimes if we are to solve this menace and live in harmony among ourselves.