Waiguru recovers about 800 acres of grabbed public land valued at Ksh. 1 billion

County Government of Kirinyaga has repossessed over 800 acres of public land valued at about Ksh.1 billion that had been grabbed by private entities.

The prime land scattered mainly in major towns across the county were grabbed by well-connected individuals during the defunct local authorities.

The parcels of land were earmarked for hospitals, court and police stations, markets, schools, irrigation dams, bus terminals and playfields among other social amenities.

Governor Anne Waiguru has warned that her administration will not spare any effort to recover all grabbed public land and asked those still sitting on such to surrender the same to the government.

Waiguru said the grabbing of the parcels of land had deprived citizens of essential services and shared benefits.

“Safeguarding public land from being grabbed is important because such land is meant to serve the collective good, not private interests. Public land holds schools, hospitals, parks, forests, and infrastructure. Public land is often allocated for future development projects like roads, affordable housing, and public utilities. If grabbed, these plans are disrupted,” she said.

County Executive for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rev. Samuel Kajombe, said the County Government is still pursuing recovery of several other parcels of land in court.

“We have several ongoing court cases that seek to recover grabbed public land. We are optimistic the County Government will win and get the land back for the benefit of the community,” Kajombe said.

Among land that the County Government has filed case in court seeking to recover include that designated for the Gichugu Law Court, Kianyaga police station whose ownership is being claimed an individual. The others include; 18 hectares reserved for Murinduko dam and experimental farm, 700 acres of the South Ngariama land meant for a police station, markets, government offices, hospital, water points, playgrounds, schools and other social amenities.

Kajombe said some of the public land were grabbed by individuals who had been compensated with alternative land after the government acquired their land for development.

“These individuals did not surrender tittle deeds of the parcel of land that had been acquired by the local authority and because the land was not immediately put into use, they quietly returned and some sold it to unsuspecting Kenyans,” he said.

Waiguru’s effort to return grabbed public land has not gone unnoticed with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) praising her work. This after County Government reinstated the church on a piece of land where it had been evicted.

The church had been allocated the land by the defunct local authority but in 2013, it was evicted by a private entity but the court ruled in favour of the church.

On Sunday, worshipers of PCEA Kianyaga gathered at their former church premises where they held their first service in two years.

“We are grateful that the county government helped us to get back our land which had been taken away by a land buyer who evicted worshippers in a premise that they had built for over 30 years,” said Wilson Maina, Kirimara West Presbytery Moderator.

One of the critical piece of land that has been recovered from grabbers is the 242 acre where the County Government is constructing the Sagana Industrial park.

“We went to court, we won, they appealed, and again, we won. I was entrusted to lead delegations many times. I wanted this land back for the people of Kirinyaga because we have plans for industrial growth,” Waiguru stressed.

Waiguru said the recovery of the parcels were not for political or personal benefit.

“I told them I have no interest in land. What matters is that Kirinyaga people benefit through development,” she added.

She said safeguarding public land also helps preserves the environment because many of such forests, wetlands, and water catchment areas and protecting them helps maintain biodiversity, prevent pollution, and safeguard natural resources.

“Properly managed public land also attracts investment, supports agriculture, housing, and industry, boosting the economy. If we had allowed the 242 acres of land at Thigirici to be taken away, we would not have gotten land to construct the Sagana Industrial park,” she added.

Other parcels of land that have been recovered include that of the Kerugoya affordable housing project and clothes market, the proposed Kutus bus park, the Mwea “red soil” land for rice research centre, the Baricho stadium, Nyangati MCA offices land.