Kakamega to get land, environment judge ‘soon’

By JACKLINE INYANJI

A judge will soon be appointed in Kakamega to handle land cases, High Court judge Justice Said Chitembwe has said.

This follows a strike by advocates over the high number of pending land and environment cases before the courts.

“Following the creation of land and environmental court by the Constitution, thousands of files on land matters have been separated from industrial court and other courts. The judge designed to handle land cases has been unwell,” Justice Said Chitembwe said.

“We will soon identify another judge who will be officially charged with handling land cases.”

The judge made this remarks during probationers’ open day forum at Kakamega Township Secondary school where he urged residents to ensure succession of land is done in the right way.

Currently, the High court has more than 10,300 cases of land pending determination.

Chitembwe encouraged families to reach consensus in succession cases so that a designated administrator who will be named can get a letter from the chief which will be taken to court.

He told residents that the forms to facilitate the process were available at no charge.

Chitembwe said many residents were ignorant of the processes involved in changing ownership of land through succession leading to many conflicts.

“Two sureties are normally appointed and they are the ones who take the application to court. They are required to pay Sh3,000 for  the land to be gazetted  and, in a months’ time, a grant is given  and   the person will have to wait for six months for any complaints arising after which an affidavit is done,” explained the judge.

He added: “It has come to my attention that land cases are on the increase because many people in Kakamega fear court and many brokers come in demanding money. In the end a dispute a rises,” he said.