How chief ‘secretly’ sold scheme land in Kuresoi for Sh0.5m

By BOAZ KIPNGENO and JALLY KIHARA

Nakuru, Kenya: Details have emerged on how a chief could be enriching himself through dubious sale of parcels of land in Sino/Ndoinet Settlement Scheme in Kuresoi.

The Standard on Sunday is in possession of a copy of a letter residents allege reveals land deals that Kiptororo Location Chief Richard Sigilai is engaged in since 1997, immediately the Government gave land to the Ogiek community.

In the handwritten letter dated March 18, 1997, and addressed to one Joyce Chepkemoi, Sigilai informs her of a land allocation card number 08437 at Ndoinet and directs her on what to do so she can be secretly allocated the plot.

The letter reads: “This is to inform you that due to hard time and being busy throughout the day, I have come to decide that you should know the card number on allocation at Ndoinet area.”   “.... Make sure you keep this thing secret and don’t let anybody know that you have got something here,” the letter, written, stamped and signed by Sigilai, also reads in part.

The chief also notifies Chepkemoi that he had received Sh500,000 from Mathew Sang on March 17, 1997.Sources indicate that Chepkemoi is Sang’s wife, who is alleged to have given the Chief Sh500,000 and that both were not squatters and hence not beneficiaries of any plots within the settlement schemes.

When The Standard on Sunday caught up with Chief Sigilai, he admitted to have written the secret letter, but denied that he had received Sh500,000 from Mathew Sang. “I wrote the upper part of the letter but I don’t know about the money,” said Sigilai.

On why he wanted to issue someone from outside the plot, the chief replied that the person did not eventually get the land. He, however, became irritated during the interview and declined to answer why he wanted the letter’s contents kept secret. “That letter has been distributed everywhere even the CID has it. If that will make me lose my job, then so be it,” an angry Sigilai said. But Kuresoi DCIO denied knowledge of the letter.

Joyce Chepkemoi, in a telephone interview, denied having had any land deal with Sigilai or tried to acquire any land within the settlement scheme. “I have a plot in Sino Settlement Scheme but I bought it through the right channel,” Joyce contradicted herself. She claims she only saw the letter when it was distributed in the area.

Sang, her husband, also denied giving any money to the chief as alleged in the letter. “That is not a small amount that can just be given like that. Some people just want to tarnish my name,” said Sang.