Two siblings from Nyaronge village in Nyamira County are embroiled in a serious tussle over a 2-hectare piece of land that is currently a tea plantation.
Joash Marube and his own sister Joyce Kemunto have been squabbling over the piece of land before the matter was referred to Kisii civil court and the case subsequently referred back home to village elders and family members in December 2014 for a consensus by Lady Justice Ruth Sitati.
But on Tuesday, the controversial ownership seemed to escalate after Mr Marube failed to honour sermons by village elders claiming that the elders had no jurisdiction to solve such a sensitive case.
It is alleged that Mr Marube had acquired the land on behalf of his sister after receiving Sh300,000 from her before he allegedly registered the land on his name.
However, the ownership has become controversial since it emerged that the sister had signed document showing that the accused had received the sum of money for land purchasing.
“I had given him the money and he promised to purchase the piece of land on my behalf and develop it since I was in Rwanda. Upon return, he has refused to surrender the ownership documents since he registered in his name contrary to our agreement,” she said.
“I have no regrets at all and I will not appear in any meeting by the elders. They have no powers to determine such cases,” said Mr Marube on phone.
According to elder Peter Mosioma, they will refer the case back to court following noncompliance by the accused so that he can face the full force of the law.