Land tussle to delay county's annual agriculture show

Two State agencies are fighting over 13 hectares in Bungoma, where the county's annual agricultural show was to be held this year.

The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has moved to court accusing the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) of grabbing the land.

ASK was to stage the show, but such plans have now been put on hold after LBDA went to a court in Kisumu, seeking orders barring ASK from conducting any activities on the land.

LBDA, through lawyer Kenneth Amonde, said in its application that ASK had hired goons to keep people from accessing the land.

He said ASK had been working on the land, leveling it in order to curve a showground, while ignoring LBDA's demands to quit.

Mr Amonde said ASK's illegal occupation of the land had led to LBDA losing huge revenue.

In the court application, LBDA argues that it has been occupying the land since 1984, before ASK grabbed it last April.

“The plaintiff is the proprietor of the unsecured plot in Bungoma municipality measuring 13.4 hectares, according to a letter of allotment issued by the National Land Commission,” Amonde's application reads.

In a supporting affidavit filed by LBDA’s Managing Director Raymond Omollo, the authority has accused ASK of unlawfully preventing it from carrying out its functions on the land.

ASK is yet to reply to LBDA's accusations, as it has not filed an affidavit answering all the claims raised.