Former Chief Advisor to ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga, Caroli Omondi was sucked into a land battle over 500 acres in Nandi County.
The land has been an issue of contention between Usonik Farm Purchase Cooperative Society and the family of the late musician Achieng’ Abura.
The land under dispute was originally owned by Abura’s mother, the late Isabella Abura who purchased it through a loan from the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
When Isabella died in 1993, her children inherited the land and also the loan that she hadn't completed paying.
In 2007, the musician’s brother, Jack Franklin, agreed to sell 500 acres of the farm to Kichaba Farmers Cooperative Society for Ksh35 million to offset the AFC loan.
Usonik released Ksh9 million to AFC, which in turn handed over the land’s title deed to the Aburas. Usonik has been fighting to execute the deal they signed with the songstress’ brother.
After Franklin died in October 2007, Achieng' Abura took over handling affairs of the land. She sold the property to Omondi, sparking a vicious battle with Usonik.
Omondi and Usonik had both signed deals to buy the farm and have each been putting up structures on the land.
High Court judge Samuel Kibunja ordered Usonik off the land until he made a final ruling on whether to compel the Abura family to complete the sale deal with the sugarcane farmers.
“Even without making a final determination on whether or not Usonik or its members have any right to occupy or possess the land, it is obvious they had not received the blessings of the plaintiffs when they erected structures on the suit land. It is only fair that Usonik is restrained from using the suit land pending the hearing and determination of the suit,” Justice Kibunja ordered.
