BY ROBERT NYASATO

Civic leaders have raised concern over the alleged fraudulent sale of farmers’ prime land in Kisii town.

Led by Kisii Municipal Council Audit Committee Chairman Patrick Siro, the leaders questioned how a parcel of land leased to Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) in the heart of the town changed hands and was now under the ownership of a private developer.

Siro petitioned Lands minister James Orengo and Commissioner of Lands Zablon Mabeya to institute a probe into land transactions, saying farmers were losing their investments through corrupt dealings.

Fraud

“We are not going to sit back and watch as farmers get defrauded of their prime property through improper means,” Siro told a Press conference in Kisii yesterday.

According to documents seen by The Standard, KFA acquired the parcel of land in 1963 and has been occupying it until about a month ago when a private developer claimed ownership.

Siro accused Town Clerk William Chepkwony of authorising sale of the land without the councillors’ consent.

“The clerk is approving documents without the authority of the planning committee. I am challenging the authenticity of minutes cited to issue consent because it shows I was present yet I never attended the meeting,” he said.

But when contacted for response, Chepkwony denied the accusations, saying private investors acquired the property through a public auction.

Court redress

He explained that the landowner had taken a bank loan and placed the parcel of land as collateral but failed to service it leading to its subsequent disposal by the financial institution.

“If the councillors are aggrieved they can seek legal redress in court to sort out the matter,” Chepkwony offered.

Two weeks ago, Khetia Drapers attempted to evict tenants from the land in question, including a church, but was met with resistance forcing police to shoot in the air to disperse surging crowds.

A meeting convened by Kisii DC Philip Soi to resolve the matter failed to make any headway.

The leaders warned of possible violence unless urgent measures are taken by the Government to check on land transactions in Kisii.

Land disputes have been common in Kisii with of killings of family members being reported as a result of unresolved land wrangles.