There was drama at Thika's land registry on Tuesday after a group of about 100 people stormed the registry to demand for their title deeds after a land company that 'sold' them plots in Kiganjo went underground with their millions of shillings.
The members of DCEE Self Help Group led by their Chairman James Njoroge told journalists that DCEE Estate had sold them 50 by 100 plots next to the famous Buffalo Hills with each going at Sh100,000.
"We are a total of 500 members and each of us was supposed to contribute Sh100,000 in agreed instalments till all the whole amount was paid. Each member was also supposed to pay Sh5000 membership fee. So far every member is done with payments and we have contributed a total of Sh80 million," said Njoroge.
Njoroge said that the land buying scheme started in 2011 and all members had completed paying after 2 years but are yet to get their title deeds three years down the line.
"Every time we go to demand for our title deeds they keep on giving us lame excuses. Our efforts to have our money refunded has also not been successful. It is after all these problems that we realized that the culprits had closed their offices and gone hiding with our money," said the exasperated Chairman.
Thika DCC Tom Anjere promised to do everything to bring the culprits to book while warning the members of the public to be wary of some of the land buying companies out there to fleece them their hard-earned cash.
"We have asked them to record a statement at Thika Police Station so that investigations can start. We, however, advise members of the public to be very careful with some of these land buying companies which are only out there to fleece them," Anjere said. The victims had allegedly heard about the company through a popular vernacular radio advertising about the 'mburoti maguta maguta' (good plots) which has now turned to be a hoax.