B**w to residents after ruling against claim to land ownership

Over a thousand residents of Ngoliba, Mavoloni and Yatta villages in Kiambu and Machakos have been dealt a blow after a High Court dismissed their case in which they claimed ownership of 1,599 land stretching across the two counties.

The prime land under parcel numbers Gatuanyaga/Ngoliba/Block 2/1-209 has been at the centre of a protracted court battle between residents under Mavoloni Company Ltd and a list of respondents.

In 1992, the residents say in court documents that the government of Kenya through the commissioner of lands approved their application for sub-division of their 1,599 acres into 205 agricultural plots ranging from 5 to 139 acres. As a condition, they surrendered their original title to the government in exchange for new free hold titles and paid for the compilation fee as demanded.

Upon sub-division, the residents stated in court documents that the commissioner of lands did not hand over to them free hold title deeds for the 205 agricultural plots in their name as agreed. Upon receipt of replying papers, the residents discovered the titles were issued in the name of Mavoloni Company in 1992 and transfers done to the Kenya African National Traders and Farmers Union and Standard Chartered Management Agents Limited.

The titles, they state, were unlawfully issued depriving them of their interests in or rights over the 209 plots.