Land cartels, goons keep a tight grip on Kirimas' 1,000 acres in the city

Francis Kimemia, former Head of Public Service and chair of the Kirima land secretariat, Ann Wangari Kirima and Steve Kirima at the Nairobi office.  [George Njunge, Standard] 

The Kirima family has accused cartels and goons who allegedly sold their 1,000 acres of land in Nairobi of frustrating efforts to regularise the land and issue title deeds to occupants.

According to the land secretariat led by former Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, the groups are allegedly intimidating the process for fear of repaying money collected from unsuspecting buyers. The parcel is home to more than 50,000 people.

“The court pronounced itself on the matter and gave the Kirima family the right to the parcel of land. The people were asked to vacate or face eviction. Those who sold the land do not want to compensate or refund the money to the Kenyans they conned. On humanitarian grounds, the Kirima family wants to allow families to buy the portions they occupy and regularise their stay, but the cartels are standing in the way,” Kimemia said.

Kimemia added that valuation, surveying, planning and digitisation have been completed at a cost of more than Sh500 million. “We have brought on board a task force comprising the national government, the Ministry of Lands and the county government. We now have the biodata of all occupants.” 

Ann Wangari Kirima, a daughter and trustee of the Kirima land, said the goal is to ensure all occupants are regularised through legitimate title deeds issued by the family and the secretariat.

“The goons and cartels who are still operating on our land and selling to unsuspecting Kenyans have become an impediment to the process. They are now targeting Kenyans abroad and some are still putting up buildings. The groups are benefiting from illegal land sales and grabbing.

Francis Kimemia, former Head of Public Service and chair of the Kirima land secretariat, Ann Wangari Kirima and Steve Kirima at the Nairobi office.  [George Njunge, Standard] 

“As a family, we were persuaded by the secretariat to allow Kenyans on the land to regularise their plots since they were issued with certificates by the cartels. We want to issue title deeds after payment, and this has rubbed the cartels the wrong way,” Wangari said.

She said some occupants have invested in the land, adding that eviction is unnecessary under the proposed regularisation plan.

“We have worked on a win-win situation where people on the land will simply pay and continue living in peace. It is up to them to decide whether to pay or face eviction.”

Steve Kirima, a son and administrator of the land, said occupants should overcome fear of the cartels to protect their investments.

He added that some occupants have begun paying for their plots, with some clearing their dues fully, while others have paid up to 20 per cent of the amounts owed to the Kirima family.