Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources led by Taita -Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma met today to deliberate on Petition to the Senate by Mbogo’s Family of Mbari ya Mbogo concerning forgery, perjury and Illegal alienation of LR NO. 7153/1,7153/2,7153/ R also known as LR. 12825 located in Kasarini Estate, Kiambu County.

The Petition is about an ownership dispute of a 933.9- acre of land in Kiambu County, on which multibillion shilling commercial and residential properties stand. The land is situated along Kiambu Road , near Thindigua, and going by the current land rates, it could be worth over Sh 100 billion estimation.

The petitioners representing Mbogo Family welfare Group, filed a claim with the National Land Commission (NLC) tribunal wanting to be given the land, which is already subdivided and partly sold. The NLC made a determination in favour of the respondent in disregarding the findings from the Ministry of Cooperative whom disowned that the Kasarini Farmers’ Cooperatives was a registered entity with the Government. 

The petitioners claim that their forefathers bought the property from the Dorobo Community Kimokori, Kimandani, Gitaki and Ndimothi in 1930 through barter trade. About, 2, 000 goats and cattle were given out in exchange for land. However, the transaction was not in writing as that was the mode of agreement in 1930, owing to their inability to read and write.

The colonial settlers under the umbrella body Kasarini Estate Ltd identified the land as suitable for coffee farming research . But due to confrontations and opposition from the occupants, the settlers agreed to organize the families in an association , Kasarini Farmers’ Co-operatives Society, which was registered on July 20,1994 (Settlers’). 

The families worked on the land, registered as Number 7153/R (Under Community land tenure) and continued to benefit from development on it, which included coffee that was planted by the settlers. But their woes would begin in 1947, when the settlers handed the managed to the Kasarini Farmers’-operatives Society.  

Legislators resolved to Invite the National Land Commission (NLC) to give and explanation on the matter so that justice is served to the petitioners. 

Other Members in attendance were Sen. William Cheptumo, Sen. Agnes Kavindu and Sen. Mariam Omar.