Landowners in Nyandarua have been put on high alert after the county government announced plans to combat irregular land allocations.
Through a gazette notice, Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha revealed the formation of a task force on land investigation in a bid to restore public trust in land governance.
The task force, which will comprise a chairperson, four members, a secretary and a three-member secretariat, will be mandated to investigate questionable land ownership and allocation practices that have taken root in Nyandarua's capital, Ol Kalou.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Governor of Nyandarua County has established a Taskforce on Land Investigation to enquire into matters concerning land ownership and allocations within Ol Kalou Municipality," the notice read.
Among the issues the task force is expected to tackle is uncovering the truth behind alleged irregular and unlawful allocations of public land within Ol Kalou Township.
Part of the investigations of dubious allocations of public land will involve a comprehensive assessment of the current land titling process to curb the issue of unchecked land grabbing and improper titling.
Once the assessment is done, the task force will be required to recommend actions, which may include revocation or reclamation of plots acquired through unclear means.
Ol Kalou, which serves as Nyandarua's administrative and economic hub, has some of the priciest pieces of land in the market, depending on their size and location.
A quick spot check by Kenyans.co.ke established that a piece of land near Ol Kalou town can go for as high as Ksh3 million.
The county government's move to investigate unlawful land allocations comes months after the National Land Commission (NLC) announced plans to regulate land tenure in Nyandarua and Kericho Counties.
Through a notice on Tuesday, December 31, NLC revealed that a 0.99-acre piece of land would be allocated to the general public and any other interested parties.
Regulation of the land tenure, according to NLC, will be subject to terms, covenants, conditions and reservations which will need to be included in the conveyance documents between the government and the interested parties.
Owners of the land are required to write a claim for compensation before the day of the inquiry and present a copy of their identity card (ID), Personal Identification Number (PIN), land ownership documents, and bank account details for compensation.
