Outcry as Kajiado landowners battle extortion schemes

Landowners in Kajiado County have expressed alarm over rising cases of locals seeking to repossess parcels of land sold to investors many years ago in order to resell the property at the current market prices.

The groundbreaking behaviour, which is being propelled by land brokers eyeing prime property for selfish gains, has prompted the Lands ministry to classify Kajiado as a hotspot for land scams.

So mischievous is the scheme that some ex-owners are prepared to use unorthodox means, including offering to pay back money to the original buyers, to repossess the land that once belonged to them.

However, most of those seeking recoveries do not have documents to support their claims.

In one of the cases, a family in Noosikitok village in Kajiado Central is seeking to repossess 100 acres sold to one Moses Narok in 2002. The siblings claim the land was sold too cheaply to pay medical bills for their ailing mother, who is now deceased.

“We must repossess the land by all means. Our mother sold it cheaply and our attempt to reach out to the county land tribunal and Maasai community traditional land dispute resolution has yielded no fruit,” Sarah Tutu said in an interview with the Daily Nation.

Mediation with family

In his defence, Mr Narok maintains that he lawfully bought the land 18 year ago and has sought mediation with the family – to the extent of offering 40 acres of his land to the kinfolk to end the dispute, but that has not worked as the family wants to be given the entire ranch.

“I have been battling blackmail to let go my land. The value of land continues to appreciate and the family wants to use unorthodox means to repossess the land,” he said.

READ: How to buy land in Kenya

According to Kajiado Lands executive Harmilton Persaina, the case was brought before the county board and sittings were held between the two parties but the family declined the offer.

“It was decided that the landowner gives the family 30 acres on humanitarian grounds, but the family declined the offer demanding a bigger portion,” he said.

Similar cases have been reported across the county, mostly in Kajiado East, Kajiado Central, and Kajiado West with landlords now urging the State to protect them from extortionists.

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