CS Wahome puts public land occupiers on notice as state moves to reclaim land

Nominated MCA Peter Mbogo with Lands CS Alice Wahome during a thanksgiving ceremony in Gakarara, Kandara, in Murang'a/ ALICE WAITHERA

Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has issued a warning to individuals occupying public land irregularly, saying the government will take steps to repossess such parcels in an effort to unlock stalled development projects and improve service delivery.

Wahome said the continued occupation of public land outside established legal processes has posed a challenge to development, limiting access to essential services.

In Murang’a County, the CS said several parcels of public land are subject to disputes over ownership and occupation, adding that she will work closely with Governor Irungu Kang’ata to have them identified, documented and secured.

“Those currently in possession of public land under dispute should be aware that measures are being taken to restore such land for public use,” she said.

Wahome was speaking in the Gakarara area of Kandara constituency during a thanksgiving ceremony for her former personal assistant and nominated MCA Peter Mbogo.

She announced that title deeds for the 1,300 acres of land transferred to the Murang’a County government by a private company along the Thika–Kenol dual carriageway are expected to be processed within a month.

She recalled that two years ago, members of the public were drawn into purchasing plots on the land following claims that it had been sold by the county government, a situation that later prompted official intervention.

Other activities, including quarrying operations, were initiated on the land, leading to enforcement actions by state agencies and continued monitoring of compliance with closure directives.

Wahome said part of the land will be allocated to the Kandara Residents Association, which has for years pursued claims over a section they say was taken from their ancestors during the colonial period.

The residents have been involved in extended court processes with the county government, seeking to halt renewal of the firm’s lease pending determination of their claims.

“We will process the documentation so that the land is subdivided, the portion earmarked for residents allocated to them, and the remainder retained by the county government,” she said.

The county administration has already established the Kenneth Matiba Eye and Dental Hospital on the land and is developing plans for an industrial city.

Wahome said her ministry will also implement an affordable housing project in the area, comprising more than 2,000 units, as part of the industrial city initiative.

At the national level, Wahome said her ministry has taken steps to recover public land associated with Nyali Secondary School in Mombasa and Lavington Primary School in Nairobi.

She noted that school land has increasingly been subject to encroachment and urged school heads to liaise with her office to address related concerns.

She added that the ministry has launched a nationwide exercise to map public land to enhance its protection.

Wahome also highlighted infrastructure projects she said are expected to improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth in the Mt Kenya region.

She cited the 45-kilometre Pangani–Kenol Expressway, which she said will ease congestion on Thika Road and improve traffic flow from Nairobi to the Mt Kenya and North Eastern regions.

She also referenced the ongoing construction of the 84-kilometre Kenol–Marua dual carriageway across Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties, as well as the dualling of the 175-kilometre Rironi–Mau Summit highway on the Nairobi–Nakuru corridor.

“These projects will significantly improve transport services. Motorists have been spending long hours on these roads,” she said.