The government through the Land Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome announced on Monday that the Ministry had commenced the process of reclaiming unlawfully acquired public land nationwide.
Wahome revealed that the Ministry of Lands had initiated its efforts with the recovery of the grabbed land belonging to Kitale Prison.
This action aligns with President William Ruto’s directive in January to evict individuals unlawfully occupying public land, particularly land designated for prisons.
“The grabbed Kitale Prison Land is just one of many cases of public land acquired fraudulently that the government is acting on to recover for its intended purpose of benefiting Kenyans and not individuals,” read a statement from the CS.
Wahome made these remarks while touring the land in question in Kitale, accompanied by Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, PS Correctional Services Salome Muhia, Commissioner General of Prisons Brigadier (retired) John Warioba, as well as CBS and Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, among other officials.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized the ministry’s dedication to ensuring that unlawfully acquired land parcels are reclaimed to benefit the interests of Kenyans.
During his visit to Trans Nzoia County on January 17, President Ruto lamented that individuals unlawfully occupying Kitale Prison’s land were impeding development plans.
He announced plans to relocate the prisons since they were occupying land intended for the construction of a city.
The Head of State further urged all individuals illegally occupying public land to surrender the grabbed parcels to the Ministry of Land.
“I am issuing a notice that all those who have grabbed the prison’s land should pack their things and leave,” Ruto directed.
Ruto’s directive prompted Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Charles Mutembei to lead inmates in placing beacons on the designated land by January 31.
Nevertheless, residents who purchased unlawfully acquired land have urged the government to explore avenues for compensating them.
A section of the grabbed land belongs to Kitale Prisons.
