Kephis repossesses 100 acres grabbed land

By Osinde Obare

More than 100 acres of grabbed land belonging to the Kenya Planters Health Inspectorate (Kephis) has been repossessed.

This follows a collaborative effort launched by Kephis that led to the recovery of the land, allegedly grabbed by influential personalities at the institution’s Kitale station.

Kephis Managing Director James Onsando commended local DC Alfred Kinyua for his support in the repossession effort.

Dr Onsando expressed concern that operations at the institution were grounded after it lost nearly 300 acres of land to private developers through illegal allocations.

"We are not going to stop the campaign to reclaim the lost land. We are happy that we enjoy the support of the media and Provincial Administration," he said.

Onsando was speaking during an agricultural field day in Kitale organised by Kephis and Kenya Seed Company.

Land grabbing, he said, had adversely affected national performance trials and demonstration of seed varieties.

Onsando noted private developers only spared 20 acres for housing the administration block.

Among those accused of grabbing the institution’s prime land near Kitale town include a top clergy and a former DC recently.

Prof Julia Ojiambo, Kephis chairperson, urged those who acquired land from the station to surrender it to restore the institution’s services.

She said Kephis would continue to pursue and recover land illegally dished to influential persons.†