Land grabbers in Trans Nzoia County are in trouble.
The County government formed a task force that will look into public land among other properties that got lost during the actualisation of devolution.
Before devolution, there were municipalities that were phased out by counties.
In recent years, county government officers have been accused by human rights activist of grabbing public land.
The eleven members of the task force were sworn in by Chief Magistrate of Kitale Law Courts Julia’s Ng’arng’ar.
They will carry out their duties with the investigative agencies that includes officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
They are required to bring their report within six month for action.
Governor Patrick Khaemba said his government has found it difficult to expand Kitale town due to land grabbing.
He said land grabbers had converted ownership of land within the Central Business District and outside the town in their favour.
Land meant for business people, hospitals, schools, roads, sewerage lines, among others had been grabbed.
The unscrupulous land grabbers have tried to grab the cemetery too.
Residents of Maridadi area, a few kilometers from the town who spoke to The Scholar Media Africa, are happy with the formation of the task force.
They said that the only dispensary around them was grabbed by a private developer.
Kiss Primary School in Kwanza Constituency, Kitale School and Trans Nzoia Primary School and Kitale National Polytechnic which are located within the town among other properties are also affected.
During the first term of Khaemba administration, the county government found it difficult to construct Kitale Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).
This forced the county government to spend millions of shillings to purchase a piece of land to construct the facility that will be of beneficial after its completion.
Currently, patients who needs further medications are referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in the neighboring county of Uasin Gishu.
Khaemba appealed to those who know that they have grabbed public land including his county officers to surrender peacefully instead of waiting for the law to catch them.
He said the title deeds for such parcels will be nullified.
He further asked those who grabbed public land and are erecting buildings not to waste their resources and time as the law will bring them down.
County Commissioner Sam Ojwang said the task force will be accorded enough Security and no external force will stop them from reclaiming public land.
Repossessing the land will enable the county to develop more.
‘’This county has a good soil for agricultural practices thus attracting many people with intention to have a home or do farming.
One should be careful and do thorough research before buying to avoid cartels who may take advantage to sell air or grabbed land to make illegal profit,’’ Khaemba told The Scholar Media Africa.
Other grabbed land which is under national government includes prison land within the town where individuals have land documents.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO ), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) both meant for farming research have also been affected.
The Agricultural Development Corporation land has not been spared either.
The museum land has also been grabbed.
The departments of lands both at county and national level have been allegedly promoting land cartels.
They do so by producing new maps and title deeds anyhow in collaboration with cartels within and outside the county.
Human rights activist Kefa Were says the land department under the national government should be scrutinized.
He claimed that some officers issue title deeds and new maps to cartels.
