Nakuru: The national government, in collaboration with the Nakuru County government, is set to issue title deeds to over 1,500 residents of Rongai Sub-County. This initiative aims to resolve longstanding land disputes within the devolved unit.
According to Kenya News Agency, John Kihagi, the County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development, emphasized the necessity for landowners within Ruiyobei Farm in Solai Ward to receive their land ownership documents after a 41-year wait. Kihagi praised the joint decision by both levels of government as a positive move towards economic elevation in Nakuru County and enhancing land value in the region.
Kihagi noted that the Ministry of Lands and the County administration are working to complete the land adjudication exercise promptly. He highlighted that the move is intended to help local communities address land disputes and finally obtain title deeds, which have been elusive for over four decades.
During a ceremony to issue the approved physical development plan for the settlement to Directors and members of Solai Ruiyobei Farm, Kihagi reiterated the commitment of national and county governments to accelerate land adjudication in Nakuru County. This effort is aimed at empowering communities economically and fostering regional economic development.
The event saw attendance from prominent figures including Rongai Member of Parliament Paul Chebor, Solai Ward Member of County Assembly Nixon Morogo, County Chief Officer in charge of Lands Kennedy Mugo, Chief Officer in the Office of the Governor Martin Kagai, and political adviser to the Governor Jane Simita.
Kihagi urged the beneficiaries to safeguard public utilities within the farm and to coexist peacefully. He assured them of the governments’ commitment to developing essential social infrastructure, such as schools, vocational training colleges, and hospitals, to support local livelihoods.
He encouraged locals to utilize their land wisely by cultivating crops like sunflower, pyrethrum, potatoes, maize, beans, and peas, which thrive in the area. Kihagi also advised residents to use their land for commercial purposes or farming to ensure a stable livelihood.
Kihagi acknowledged numerous petitions from residents living on parcels without proper documentation, including those from the disputed Ndabibi Farm acquired in the 1990s. He expressed concern over residents’ lack of security of tenure and emphasized the urgency in resolving the backlog in title deeds issuance.
To address the situation, he indicated that the County government has trained mediators to help resolve land disputes, facilitating faster issuance of title deeds. He advocated for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to solve land cases, which constitute at least 50 percent of court cases in the region.
Rongai MP Paul Chebor encouraged residents to capitalize on the land ownership documents to develop their parcels and warned against selling land to outsiders, as it could lead to landlessness. He emphasized the importance of using title deeds to secure loans and improve living standards.
Chebor also urged the community to engage in productive land use to alleviate poverty and expressed optimism that title deeds will help curb land grabbing and end disputes. He proposed the formation of village committees to work with government officials in verifying land claims and safeguarding residents’ rights.
The initiative, led by Governor Susan Kihika’s administration in conjunction with the national government, focuses on expediting land settlement and securing public utilities. Chebor noted that families have struggled to access financial loans since the 1970s due to lack of collateral.
Nakuru hosts numerous settlement schemes established post-independence, with many beneficiaries holding only allotment letters until the late 1990s. Prolonged disputes and organizational challenges have hindered residents’ access to legal documents capable of transforming lives. A team from the county’s Lands Department and the National Lands Commission has been tasked with expediting the processing of title deeds.