Grabbed land, double allocation claims as titling begins in Salgaa

Grabbed public land and double allocations are among issues surveyors and Nakuru county government officials will face as the issuance of title deeds to residents of Salgaa Centre begins.

The process, which is scheduled to begin this week, will bring to an end a four-decade-long wait by land owners to have title deeds.

Simon Ngugi said his late father, Peter Gakuo, started the centre in the 1980s.

Gakuo is said to have sold a 30-acre land to the then County Council of Nakuru to start the trading centre then known as Chawa Trading Centre.

Ngugi said his father also requested that he be allowed to incorporate 20 acres of his land into the centre, a request that was allowed. The land, he said, was subdivided into plots and allotment letters issued to him and family members.

Gakuo, in an MoU with the County Council, signed December 28, 1988, surrendered several plots to be used as public utilities.

Ngugi said some people are laying claim to some of the parcels of land that belong to his family.

He revealed that in December 2023, he was arrested and taken to Salgaa police station, where he produced his documents. The person who laid claim on the land, he said, informed the police that he ‘found’ the land.

“We have been to the county offices many times, met county officials and physical planners, but little has been done,” said Ngugi.

Livingstone Sawe, the chairperson Salgaa Business Community said revealed that he is among those whose land is being claimed by two other individuals. Sawe said he has also been arrested and taken to a police station over the land he acquired from the Gakuos.

Sawe said three survey maps have been developed and several parcels have been allocated different plot numbers.

He said he has been to various county offices seeking help to have the issue addressed.

“The family of Gakuo sold us land, gave us land for public school, who are these others coming to lay claim on the parcels?” he said.

On Thursday, Nakuru County Government officials led by Lands CECM John Kihagi, Chief Officer Lands Stella Mwaura, Mosop Ward MCA Alex Langat, and CECM for Water and Environment Nelson Maar met land owners in the area.

The CECM said the survey and titling programme is expected to end in 100 days.

He said a committee will be formed to work with the surveyor. Asked how the issue of multiple maps arose, he said it is natural.

“It is only natural that there will be multiple maps, the centre has grown, around 2020, all those maps were consolidated into one that we call the local physical and land use plan. We are not going to use multiple maps; there is an approved map approved by the County Assembly,” said Kihagi.