Investors in crisis meeting over land disputes

Investors have called a crisis meeting to discuss incessant land disputes. More than 10,000 title owners will meet in Athi River, Machakos County on Saturday to deliberate on the way forward in the wake of alleged invasion of their plots by suspected land grabbers.

The investors claim land grabbers had taken over their land, subdivided it and were selling parcels to unsuspecting buyers. They also say there have been cases where houses belonging to rightful plot owners have been demolished by gangs who stake claim to the plots.

The meeting is meant to pile pressure on Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to order investigations into land ownership disputes. The owners say despite raising the alarm in writing and recording statements with police, land grabbers were still having a field day in Athi River. “During the meeting this Saturday, we will explore all avenues towards ending this mess. We will converge at our old offices in Kamulu,” said Mr John Mutisa, a representative of the aggrieved land owners, mainly drawn from Kamulu Drumvalle Cooperative Society.

Kamulu Drumvalle members say they have sent letters to the National Land Commission, the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Interior.  Last week, Kaimenyi said aggrieved investors were yet to file an official complaint with his office. But speaking to the press yesterday, the investors said they were increasingly being frustrated. “With over 10,000 title owners of between 1/8 and 5-acre parcels, our land is increasingly becoming a target of grabbers,” said a land owner. The investors now want to meet Kaimenyi over the matter.

Two weeks ago, five people armed with crude weapons were arrested after they stormed the 2,000-acre Mavoko town block 12 Drumvalle Kamulu and began developing the plot. County commissioner Matilda Sakwa confirmed the arrests but said the matter was being investigated by officers in Athi River sub-county. In the past, several high-end buildings have been brought down in Mavoko after investors acquired land without knowing the parcels were legally owned by other people.