A former State House official who is now a private developer has claimed ownership of more than 10 acres of State lodge land in Eldoret.
The ex-State House comptroller who remains unnamed paid three men to fence the parcel of land directly opposite the State Lodge with corrugated metal fence.
The area is usually used as a parking lot by guests to the State Lodge.
Top police commanders, led by Eldoret East DC Norbert Komora and officials from Uasin Gishu, rushed to the State Lodge where the three people were apprehended.
“We were there with my seniors but the matter is still under investigations because those people claim to have documents for the land. I cannot comment further on the matter, because it is still under investigation,” area police boss Richard Omanga told the Star.
The developer had also managed to erect beacons in the lodge’s vicinity which is a highly protected area.“The people involved must be daring or well-connected because they have the nerve to move in and fence off land in a protected area,” a source remarked.
Extra GSU officers has since been deployed to man the Eldoret State lodge.
In September 2014, NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri led a visit to the State Lodge land to probe land grabbing allegations.
Land belonging to seven state lodges have so far been grabbed by private developers who allege they were allocated the land during the tenure of retired President Moi.
Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kakamega, Mtito Andei, and Kitale State lodges are affected.
