Murkomen faults court ruling in Kitale GK Prison land case

The government has two weeks to relocate from the prime parcel of land housing the Kitale GK Main Prisons in Trans Nzoia County following a court order.

Speaking while presiding over the 22nd Jukwaa la Usalama Security Assessment Baraza in Kitale on Monday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen decried the number of public utilities in Trans Nzoia that have been targeted by land cartels.

Part of these utilities includes the Kitale Maximum Prison, which is being claimed by a private developer.

The private developer was awarded the land, and the government ordered either to facilitate a Ksh.9 billion acquisition of the property or vacate the premises.

“We are appealing the judgement because we were not well represented by the attorney-general,” the CS said.

He stated that security agencies in Trans Nzoia are pursuing fraudulent Land Ministry and county officials who are part of a land-grabbing cartel targeting public land.

“The nature and manner of land grabbing in this county is alarming. This was ignored for a long time by state actors based here,” said Murkomen.

The Interior CS announced that a detailed report illustrating the number of public utilities grabbed in the county will be forwarded to the National Security Council for adequate deliberations.