The Kirinyaga County Government has successfully reclaimed more than 800 acres of public land valued at approximately Ksh1 billion, marking a major step in its ongoing crackdown on land grabbing.
Governor Anne Waiguru revealed that the recovered parcels were illegally acquired by private entities during the era of the defunct local authorities. The prime plots, scattered across major towns, had been set aside for public use including hospitals, police stations, markets, schools, and bus parks.
Waiguru warned that her administration will not relent until all public land is fully recovered, urging individuals still holding onto grabbed property to surrender it voluntarily.
“Safeguarding public land is vital because it serves the collective good, not private interests. Such land is meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and other public utilities. When grabbed, these essential projects are disrupted,” she said.
The governor added that protecting public land also preserves the environment, forests, wetlands, and water catchment areas crucial for maintaining biodiversity and preventing pollution.
“Properly managed public land attracts investment and supports agriculture, housing, and industry, boosting the economy. If we had lost the 242 acres at Thigirici, we wouldn’t have space for the Sagana Industrial Park,” she noted.
County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Lands, Physical Planning, and Urban Development Rev. Samuel Kajombe said several court cases are still ongoing to recover more parcels.
“We are optimistic that the county will reclaim the remaining lands currently under dispute for the benefit of the community,” Kajombe said.
Among the properties under litigation are parcels designated for the Gichugu Law Courts and Kianyaga Police Station, as well as 18 hectares reserved for the Murinduko Dam and experimental farm. Another 700 acres of the South Ngariama land, meant for markets, hospitals, water points, and schools, are also being contested.
Kajombe disclosed that some grabbers were individuals who had been compensated with alternative land after the government acquired their property for development projects but never surrendered the original title deeds.
“These individuals later returned and sold the land to unsuspecting buyers after it remained idle for years,” he said.
Key parcels already recovered include land earmarked for the Sagana Industrial Park, the Kerugoya affordable housing project, the Kutus bus park, the Mwea “red soil” rice research centre, Baricho Stadium, and Nyangati MCA offices.
Waiguru affirmed that her government will continue collaborating with investigative agencies to safeguard public property and ensure accountability.
“Our message is clear public land belongs to the people of Kirinyaga. We will not allow a few individuals to enrich themselves at the expense of the community,” she stated.
