State says Lord Hugh Delamere surrendered 10,000 acres to resettle squatters

Lord Hugh George Cholmondeley, 1999. [Courtesy]

The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, has defended its move to possess a 10,000-acre land in Naivasha, Nakuru County, forming part of Delamere Estate.

Documents filed by Principal Secretary Nixon Korir before Judge Millicent Odeny state that Lord Hugh Delamere Cholmondeley, intended to surrender the 10,000 acres to the state in 2017.

“The land was to be surrendered for the purposes of resettlement of squatters and provision for public utilities,” read the document.

According to Korir, Lord Hugh surrendered the land to the government after which the title name was changed from LR 9362/7 to LR 9363/4.

“I note that no progress was made to that effect (land surrender) and would like to have this matter fast-tracked,” read the document.

Korir said that the government scheduled a meeting with the Delamere family and trustees to ensure the plan materialises.

Korir said that the meeting will also include the management of Soysambu Conservancy, which currently runs a wildlife conservancy on part of the property.

Korir attached a letter with the Soysambu Conservancy logo, written by Lord Hugh, to allegedly confirm his intention to surrender the land.

The government is defending itself after the land court temporarily stopped its alleged plan to interfere with the current possession of the land.

On May 20, Judge Odeny noted that the land was part of the 42,000-acre Delamere Estate.

“The defendant (the ministry) or its agents are restrained from entering the aforementioned land until the case regarding its ownership is heard and resolved,” Judge Odeny stated.

The court pronounced itself after Jonathan Stewart Coulson, a trustee of the estate, filed an application through his lawyer Victor Wekhomba.

Coulson sued the Cabinet Secretary and PS Lands, the National Land Commission, and the Attorney General.

He said he owns a total of 42,516 acres of the Delamere estate in Gilgil and Naivasha sub-counties.

“I am the trustee of Vale Royal Trust and the registered proprietor of land parcel L.R. No 9362/7, currently at risk of being unlawfully acquired by the government,” deposed Coulson.

He accused the PS of quoting the wrong land title number to hide the government’s intention of allegedly grabbing the land.

“The pattern of events is indicative of an illegal and fraudulent operation to forcibly acquire the land,” stated Coulson.

Further, Coulson said that strangers had invaded the land, claiming ownership, while others had moved to court, claiming ownership under adverse possession, but they lost the case.

He attached 11 OB numbers of reports he made between May 3, 2024, and March 5, 2025, at Elementaita Police Station, without success.

According to Coulson, the Delamere family took possession of the land on March 1, 1960, under the leasehold ownership of 945 years.

The case will be mentioned on July 3.