Lands ministry sets record straight on contested Mavoko land

In a press briefing on Thursday, Wahome who recently took over the helm at the Lands Ministry also warned shadowy individuals who are duping Kenyans to buy lands with a shares certificate. 

CS Wahome also waded into the Mavoko land saga that has seen property of untold value demolished in a contested piece of land. 

"The ministry wishes to confirm that we are in possession of Mavoko land and all historical information," CS Wahome told the media. 

"Any other documents purported to own the land do not originate from this office." 

CS Wahome stated that the large tract of land encroached upon by landgrabbers belongs to East African Portland Cement Company.

She stated that after an investigation, the farmers' association, 'Aimi Ma Lukenya,' should compensate those affected.

She also urged members of the public to carry out due diligence, highlighting incidences of government officers aiding in land grabbing. 

"There has been a lapse where government officers aid in land grabbing. Going forward the public should do due diligence in purchasing on purchasing parcels of land," she added. 

During the briefing, CS Wahome was flanked by Principal Secretary for the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, Nixon Korir. 

Korir distanced the ministry from the recent spate of demolitions that had attracted the ire of Kenyans online and offline, saying the Lands Ministry does not enforce demolitions. 

He said the demolitions are handled by the land owner in conjunction with law enforcement. 

The PS went on to say that before the demolitions, sufficient notice had been given to the evictees to vacate the land. 

"There was sufficient time given to those evicted to vacate the land," Korir said, " The signature in the fake documents belongs to an officer who worked at the ministry in the 1980s."