[Source: The Standard, by Julius Chepkwony]
A week after the Environment and Lands Court in Nakuru declared over 3,300 title deeds in the hands of members of the company fraudulent. The aggrieved members are now preparing to file an appeal.
Justice Sila Munyao in a judgment delivered on November 27, 2019 ordered the Director of Surveys to expunge Registry Index Maps bearing title deeds in Kiambogo/Kiambogo Bloc 3 (Ol Jorai Company Limited).
The court noted that Solai Ruiyobei Company was and is the legal owner of the parcel of land. “That the land parcel LR No. 20229/1 has never been lawfully subdivided and remains intact and the tittle thereof still remains registered in the name of Solai Ruyobei Farm Limited,” read the judgment in part.
Solai Ruiyobei says the court is at liberty to apply for an order of eviction or deal with the said land as they may wish.
Keziah Muthoni, whom the Saturday Standard visited at her home says she is living in fear. She cannot believe that a 10-acre parcel of land she has been occupying since 1993 is not hers as she used to know.
The documents in her custody are no longer valid as they were declared null and void. She says she has invested all her strength in the land, her source of livelihood and income.
The 60-year-old, who owns a five-acre parcel of land says if eviction occurs he will lose all that he invested.
Out of fear, some of the locals have provided Peter Ole Osono, chairperson of the Ol Jorai community with copies of title deeds. He has received over 900 copies.
Paul Maina and Elijah Sikona, both human rights activists say the judgment by the court is a recipe for disaster.
Maina says lands officials are to be blamed for failing to carry out due diligence on the land.
Ol Jorai Land Buying company claims to have acquired the land from ADC, after paying Sh10 million and got a receipt.
John Odhiambo, a former ADC worker and who testified in court says Solai Ruiyobei owned the land. Odhiambo dismissed the Sh10 million receipt.
The court also noted that there was no evidence of where the Sh10 million came from or who may have contributed towards the same.
[Full article: The Standard, by Julius Chepkwony]
