Another director of troubled Kihiu-Mwiri land firm shot dead

Over 100 Residents of Kihiu-Mwiri Land Company in Murang’a County protested outside Ardhi House in Nairobi demanding that the government release their title deeds. PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD]

Another director of Kihiu Mwiri Land Buying Company was on Sunday evening shot dead by unknown gunmen in Thika town.

Mr Paul Kaharu was shot dead as he was getting into his car at Majengo Estate in Thika town, where he had allegedly stopped to greet a friend on the way to his Starehe estate home just nearby.

The shooting brings to six the number of the firm's board members who have died mysteriously.

It also comes a month after acting Lands Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i visited the company and formed a probe team to fast-track the issuance of title deeds. Shareholders are currently waiting for their title deeds, which should be ready by September 4, as promised.

Kaharu's death follows that of his colleague Kuria Kimani, who was chairman of a rival camp, which occurred in Grey Stone area after a gun-wielding gang forced its way into his house, shooting him dead.

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In a move aimed at averting more deaths at the controversial land-buying company, the Government in May this year announced it would move to end the stalemate.

This came to pass when Deputy President William Ruto, while on tour of the area, ordered Prof Matiang'i to immediately hold a meeting to help end the killings.

The CS then formed a five-man team to probe the firm, and finalise the issuance of the ownership documents.

"My ministry will handle the Kihiu Mwiri case as a special project because we want to end the bloodshed and restore peace among members. We expect to issue title deeds on September 4, 2015," said Matiang'i.

The team, led by Director of Survey Cesare Mbaria and Lands Secretary Sarah Masaki, was given authority to regularise sub-division of the 1,085-acre land.

Matiang'i said his ministry will closely monitor the team's progress to ensure they are done within the set time-line. Kaharu was one of the officials the technical committee sought for information to help in unravelling the impasse at the company.

According to eye witnesses, the deceased was shot four times in the head and the chest by a lone gunman who was riding on a motorbike. He then sped off after the attack.

"We heard a loud bang and did not know what was happening. We later learnt someone had been shot dead," said James Njoroge, an eye witness.

other deaths

His death brings to six the directors of the firm who have been killed in cold blood in the last 10 years.

Last month, another director, Kimani Kuria, was gunned down by unknown people who also escaped after committing the murder.

Other directors who have been killed in cold blood are Wilfred Gichana, Newton Chege Muhoro, Ngugi Kamau and Benson Ngumi.

Three others, namely Henry Ngugi, Job Mwangi and James Kimaru mysteriously disappeared last year and are yet to be found.

A section of members who spoke to The Standard in confidence called on the State to expedite investigations and bring the killers to book.

"These perennial killings must come to an end. We continue to lose directors each year through murder and mysterious disappearances, yet no one has ever been charged in court for the offences. The police need to up their game," said one member. Police in Thika said they are investigating the incident.

The giant land-buying firm has been embroiled in a bitter leadership wrangle pitting two rival groups for the last two decades, with each seeking to control the firm.

The original members of the company were age-mates to founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and were mainly from Gatundu in Kiambu and Murang'a counties.