Armed youths who were guarding a Ksh1.3 billion disputed land in Loresho on Tuesday locked the gates and temporarily detained Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.
The CS had visited the prime land to assist the rightful owners access the expansive parcel along Lower Kabete Road following a court order.
However, when the CS arrived with a team from her ministry, tens of youths who were guarding the land, locked the only exit gate immediately after Wahome entered.
CS Wahome was joined by Ashok Kumar, the owner of the land and his lawyer Suleiman Bashir.
However, immediately after they got inside the land, an unidentified man locked them inside leaving them stranded.
CS Wahome later managed to get out of the unfamiliar territory after security officers traced the man who locked the gate, forced him to break the padlock, and apprehended him.
Following the daring ordeal, the former Kandara member of parliament gave Gigiri OCPD a 24-hour ultimatum to flush all people illegally occupying the parcel of land.
“I will now direct the OCPD for Gigiri Police Station to carry out an immediate operation not later than tomorrow noon, to remove any person within the premises of this land. After noon midday tomorrow, any other person who then comes including the people employed to hold this land forcefully, must be arrested if they are still on this land,” Wahome directed.
“So, there is absolutely no reason why there should be any other person on this site, other than the true owners of this land. So, I believe that that is the way to go, and as CS I will ask for a report,” she said.
The land was subject to prolonged court battles for more than 10 years. The High Court made a ruling in 2022 declaring Ashok Kumar, the owner.
But he was blocked from accessing his property and was informed of another ownership, that of former Nairobi Provincial Commissioner, Davis Nathan Chelogoi.
The property is valued at Ksh1.35 billion and Kumar insisted that he is the rightful owner.
