Who are the real owners of Oljorai?

Nakuru County ODM party chairman Peter ole Osono (right) aims a pistol before firing several shots at journalists on May 22, 2015. The journalists had gone to cover a land dispute case at Oljorai Settlement Scheme in Gilgil, Nakuru County. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Already one of the developers has blocked a road connecting Kongasis to Oljorai Primary School forcing their children to walk in a circle of about three kilometers to access the public utility.
  • The commission’s chairman declared all the 47 counties as the registration units and thus they have the authority to make registrations for all the private, public and community land.
  • Members of the Nakuru county’s land management board  who officially took oaths on Tuesday, are faced with the gigantic task of solving the land disputes.

In 1974, the Agricultural Development Corporation, a state parastatal, bought 24,000 acres from a Mr Blockn Oljorai, Gilgil in Nakuru County, and proceeded to breed pedigree livestock.

The parastatal stopped its operations in 1993 and about 1,300 workers settled on the farm by default. Well, this is according to Mr John Sikalo who then took care of the cows at the farm.

Then came the state’s settlement scheme in 2002 with the squatters being given first priority.

Mr Sikalo became a beneficiary but even with the allotment letter, he is a worried man since the exercise was marred with double allocations.

This has resulted in bloody confrontations between the squatters and those who claim to be the genuine owners.

And so when the squatters  were finally able to present their grievances to National Land Commission chairperson Dr Mohammed Swazuri at the Nakuru county headquarters last week, they were clear: they wanted comprehensive solutions.

Already one of the developers has blocked a road connecting Kongasis to Oljorai Primary School forcing their children to walk in a circle of about three kilometers to access the public utility.

SPECULATIVE INVESTORS

Gilgil is one of the areas in Nakuru County under heavy speculation from private developers.

So much so that houses belonging to some of the squatters were burned down in 2013 by the so called intruders who wanted to evict them.

As pieces of land become scarce in Nakuru town and its immediate environs, more and more investors are going deeper into the interior for land investments that will prove lucrative in future.

For Mr Sikalo and his fellow squatters whose numbers have now increased to more than 5,000.

“We need the freedom to move from one location to another. We have lived in the ADC farm for more than 20 years.

That is where I call home. The land was given to us by ADC,” said Mr Sikalo adding that some were allocated up to five acres.

Dr Swazuri heeded their pleas and promised to look into the matter if the county land management board failed to solve the disputes.

“We cannot allow the rich to oppress the poor who do not have the muscle to fight for their rights,” said Dr Swazuri.

He further directed the county government to submit a list of all the land disputes in the county together with those involving grabbing of the public land.

Among those named in the list of the protracted land disputes include Munenga farm (Naivasha), Mutukanio Ngwataniro farms (Gillgil) a and Kasarani settlement (Molo).

Others include community settlements in Olenguorune Chepakundu (Kuresoi South), Isahakia farm (Naivasha), Kedong ranch (Naivasha) and Ndabibi/Natooli in Naivasha.

ISSUED TITLES

The commission also has the task of investigating grabbing of the 17 corridors giving access to Lakes Nakuru, Elementaita and Naivasha.

The commission’s chairman declared all the 47 counties as the registration units and thus they have the authority to make registrations for all the private, public and community land.

At the same time, he said all the townships across the country will be issued with title deeds since so as to help prevent land grabbing.

Members of the Nakuru county’s land management board  who officially took oaths on Tuesday, are faced with the gigantic task of solving the land disputes.

“If you take this job as a normal job, there will be an increase of (land) problems. But if you take it as a calling then we will be able to see results,” Dr Swazuri advised the nine board members.

Vice chairman Ms Abigael Mukolwe said land issues required personnel with independent and sober minds to solve them while promoting harmonious co-existence in the community.