Police probe loss of widow’s 477 acres of land

By Michael Wesonga

The Criminal Investigations Department has launched investigation into an alleged land fraud where a 65-year-old widow lost 477 acres to prominent personalities.

A former chief, a former PS, a former Pipeline managing director, a former Eldoret mayor and a businessman have been summoned by the police to shed light on the matter.

It is alleged that the five had a hand in the loss of 457 acres and another 20 acres that was allocated to a secondary school and Itigo AIC church in Uasin Gishu County.

“The group of individuals frustrated my husband until he died. They are individuals who were well connected in the Kanu regime,” read part of a letter written by the widow, Ann Kimitei Nyongio.

In the letter dated March 20, this year and addressed to Lands minister James Orengo, Ms Nyongio requested for a tribunal to investigate the matter. She said they have been crying for justice for the last 30 years following fruitless investigations by the Njonjo-led commission and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.

Architect

“Mr minister the architect of this manipulation is the former chief Eric Tarus, who falsely acquired for himself 80 acres,” she said in the letter.

But Tarus defended the deal, insisting that together with his colleagues they acquired the land from the Government. He said they have legal documents to prove their case.

On Friday, four detectives from the Lands Fraud Investigation Unit in Nairobi toured the land under investigation accompanied by Uasin Gishu County Surveyor Paul Agoyi.

The team of investigators, the former senior government officials and Kimitei’s four sons Abraham Mengich, Daniel Mitei, Kennedy Korir and James Mitei surveyed the parcel looking for strategic beacons.

It was only one beacon that was found during the daylong investigation in the farm located in Uasin Gishu County.

Tarus was armed with a map, which he used to try and convince the team that the parcel of land was legally acquired. But the detectives insisted on using one provided by the District Surveyor.

The family had asked the Lands minister to form a tribunal to investigate the disappearance of 477 acres LR NO 9723/IR 15449/ii they say they rightfully own.

Kimitei’s late husband acquired the 795 acres through a sale transaction between him and Bahadurali Nurani on April 1, 1981.

The family has already obtained a caveat emptor stopping further sale of the land.