House committee launches probe into ownership of Solio Ranch

From left: Members of Parliament's Land committee led by Chairperson Mburi Muiru, Vice Chairperson Moses ole Sakuda and Kieni MP Kanini Kega with Solio ranch squatters at Naro Moru Stadium in Kieni, Nyeri on Saturday. The ranch is being investigated over irregular allocation of land to squatters, who were resettled in 2009. [Photo: KIBATA KIHU/Standard]

The ownership of an expansive, privately-owned wildlife sanctuary in Laikipia is under investigation following claims it belongs to the national government.

Members of the National Assembly Lands Committee led by Chairperson Mburi Muiru visited Solio Ranch last week, where they said they had launched investigations into its ownership.

The allegations that the land is State-owned widened controversy that has gripped the ranch, which is being probed over irregular allocation of land to squatters who were resettled in 2009.

The committee had visited the land to investigate the irregular allocation claims. Scores of undeserving people were settled on the land.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega, who is also a committee member, informed the group that there were claims the 60,000-acre privately-owned ranch belonged to the Government. He added that there were other claims that unscrupulous brokers sold part of the land to the Government to settle the squatters.

“We must get to the bottom of this matter, since we believe that the land belongs to the Government and we cannot allow a case where a Government buys its own land.” said Mr Kega.

Matter in Court

Mr Muiru and the committee vice chairman Moses ole Sakuda (Kajiado North MP) said there was a possibility the Government was conned into buying its own land.

“We have taken up the matter and are going to investigate it fully so as to ensure the land goes to its rightful owners,” said Muiru.

And during the tour, it also emerged that founding President Jomo Kenyatta had in 1973 given the ranch to a land-buying company identified as Gucokaniriria Kihato Traders.

A cleric, Rev Josphat Mathu, told the committee during a public sitting with squatters held at Narumoru Stadium that his father was a member of the company and that there was a matter pending in court.

“My father has been in and out of court for 40 years. After they were given the land by President Kenyatta, they found out that it had been taken over by other people,” he said.

Rev. Mathu told the committee that after the Government announced plans to buy 15,000 acres of the land for purposes of settling squatters, the then Belgut MP Charles Keter raised the issue since the ownership wrangle was still in court.

“Attorney General Amos Wako went to Parliament and confirmed that the matter was pending in court and we were surprised when we heard the land had been hived off and sold to the Government,” said Mathu.

During the public hearing, emotions ran high as squatters recounted how they were left out of the resettlement exercise, even after they were assured they would be given land.