As the government prepares to conduct a land adjudication process, thousands of residents across the disputed South Ngariama area have reason to be hopeful.
This procedure will begin the process of titling the 17,000-acre parcel of property and transferring ownership to thousands of allottees.
Late last year, a Kirinyaga land and environment court ordered the government to address the disputes and report back on their progress in May 2023.
On Thursday, a team of administration, county government, and ministry officials met with locals in a closely monitored public forum to reassure them that the procedure will be conducted efficiently and in accordance with all court orders.
In addition, they reassured locals that they would put an end to the disputes that have plagued the area for the past three decades, stating that no one will ever lose their land again.
Ezekiel Kiania, the Ministry of Lands’ assistant director for adjudication and settlement, has asked locals for their help in moving the process along.
Furthermore, he urged locals not to be misled by rumors or instigation, stressing that his office would not be re-dividing the land but rather evaluating the efficacy of previous steps taken by other agencies.
He added that the allottees’ paperwork would be used to officially register the land.
To start the process of titling your land, we must first register it. “I want hundreds of you to go home tonight with the proof that the land you claim is yours,” he warned.
Kiania has promised that his office will address any conflicts that may occur during the drill with the utmost legal expertise and openness.
Irungu Kagwe, also from the same division, echoed his plea for the villagers to be patient and have faith in the system.
He told the locals that they would be able to freely choose who would represent them on the land adjudication committee.
County Woman Rep. Njeri Maina noted that Parliament, of which she is a part, will continue monitoring the process through the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
Maina insisted that she isn’t entitled to any portion of the contested land and has no desire to acquire any of it.
She stated unequivocally that she wants to assist the designated landowners in quickly securing their land.
The county administration, according to Rev. Samuel Kanjobe, CECM for lands, has only one interest, and that is in seeing that the land dispute is resolved once and for all.
He urged locals to work together and see the process through to a successful end, noting that political support existed to ensure residents received documentation of land ownership.
The CEC has asked locals to disregard skeptics who are trying to mislead them into abandoning the plan.
Moses Ivuto, a commissioner for the county, asked the populace to remain calm and patient during the drill.
He warned the troublemakers that the administration wouldn’t stand for any further delays.
