Kisii Lands registrar David Dunya has been accused of collusion with land grabbers to intimidate and blacklist genuine owners.
Speaking to us on Thursday in Kisii town, Advocate Ezekiel Oira, who represents Rose Michieka who has lost her land to a grabber, alleged that Dunya has been taking the issue lightly even after making several follow-ups at the lands office.
Oira has since given the lands officer three weeks to solve the matter after which, if it will not have been conclusively solved, he will seek judicial redress to the matter.
“The lands registrar is corrupt. Rose has complained to the lands registrar, who is the center of controversy, but he has hidden the file," said Oira.
"I have personally gone to his office but he is doing less to solve the matter. Am giving him three weeks, until the end of March this year. If he will not address the matter amicably, I will file a case in court,” threatened Oira.
He added: “Rose Michieka is the rightful owner of the plot located at Nyanchwa. Its title deed number is Kisii Municipality/Block 1/86-Rose Kemunto Michieka. She bought the plot in the year 1996."
"She fenced it and went to look for resources so that she could build residential houses. Stephen Isaboke, who claims to be the owner, grabbed it in 2010 in collusion with the defunct Kisii Municipality and Lands Registrar.”
Continued Advocate Oira:
“Isaboke obtained a fake title deed that enabled him to change the rates payment. He has since built seven temporary structures and collects Sh2,000 a month from each room.The search we have done in the lands office bears the names of Rose Michieka. I have wanted to meet Isaboke to discuss the issue in vain.”
Oira has recommended an investigation to be done and hold the officer responsible for the abuse of office and misconduct.
The Advocate also blamed Kisii County government for not solving the matter having written a letter on the issue.
“I wrote a letter to the Ministry of lands in the county on December 2015 but no response has been given up to this moment.”
Efforts to reach the lands registrar for a comment hit a snag.