New row as farmers lay claim to controversial Sh34m land

A section of the 34 acres of land that Murang'a County government procured from a company at a disputed price of Sh340 million. The saga of the land has taken a new twist. (PHOTO: BONIFACE GIKANDI/ STANDARD)

The saga of a 34-acre piece of land bought by the county at a controversial price of Sh340 million has taken a new twist.

A farmer's co-operative society now says the land in question belongs to its members, and that it had been gr‎abbed prior to its transfer to the county government.‎

Over 3,000 members of the Methi and Swani Farmers Co-operative accused some powerful forces of taking advantage of an uncleared bank loan four years ago to acquire the piece of land.

‎According to Zack Irungu‎, one of the pioneer members of the society, the farmers owed Co-operative Bank of Kenya Sh269 million as principal and accrued interest after defaulting on a Sh2 million loan acquired in 1989.

As a result, the society's property, which included 800 acres of land in Thika and Murang'a were to be auctioned to recover ‎the loan.‎‎

It later emerged that the bank had written off the debt. By then, the farmers claim, some individuals had taken advantage of the situation to transfer the land and get titles.

"Some individuals colluded and took advantage of our situation to transfer and get the title deed of the land in question," said Mr Irungu.

He said that as shareholders they did not know how the company that sold the land to the county government acquired it.

The society has vowed to pursue the matter in Parliament with the assistance of Maragua legislator Peter Kamande.

"We are in the preliminary stages of preparing a petition to Parliament so that they can look into this matter. As shareholders we feel wronged because this is our land," Irungu said.

The retired systems analyst told The Standard that the land was a coffee plantation until around 2012 when the bushes were cleared and the land left dormant over a debt owed to Co-operative Bank of Kenya.

Kamande, who is among the people who have questioned the purchase price of the land, confirmed that the farmers had approached him to take their petition to Parliament.

"They have complained to me that the land was transferred to individuals over a debt owed to the bank, they will not support the sale to the county unless the matter is resolved," he said.

Land disputes are not uncommon in this area, the infamous Kihiu Mwiri where a number of people were killed over land disagreements, is located nearby.‎

Little known Methi Town, where the land is located, has been thrown into the limelight especially over the value of land in the town.

The controversial land is located about 500m off the Kenol-Kilimambogo Highway.

The derelict, sloppy piece is covered by thickets and shrubs. A road cuts across its expanse, used as a short cut by neighbours.

Although there are no discernible boundaries or anything else to suggest the land is under new ownership, residents say that surveyors have been to the site severally and have placed beacons to map out the boundary.

It is understandable why many of the residents are skeptical that the land could fetch Sh10 million an acre.

Zack Irungu, whose parcel borders the controversial land, says that the most an acre can go for in the area is Sh6 million.‎

However, while some residents are surprised that the value has appreciated so much, others like Kiruri and his wife are toying with the idea of selling their land for a handsome price and pocket the rich returns.

"That is the price of land now, it has really shot up because many people are interested in getting land in this area," Kiruri said.

He added: "Back then half an acre went for Sh65,000 but now my neighbour sold a piece smaller than that for Sh800,000."

Others expressed mixed feelings towards  proposed developments in the area.

The county government had indicated plans to put up an industrial park or a market in the area. In 2014, shortly after the sale of the land, the county sent graders to build a road in the area.

Further development has since stalled after farmers raised the ownership dispute.