Cabinet Secretary Wahome Briefly Locked in Loresho Land Standoff, Two Arrested

On Tuesday, March 5, two individuals were apprehended after temporarily locking Land Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome inside an Indian-owned property worth Sh1.3 billion in Loresho, Nairobi County

The property had been allegedly acquired irregularly by a former Nairobi official. Upon entering the premises, Ms Wahome and her team were temporarily confined by two individuals who had been waiting outside. They managed to lock the government officials inside before escaping. Ms Wahome and her colleagues sought assistance from local police who apprehended one of the individuals involved.

The CS firmly instructed the police to ensure the apprehension of the two individuals responsible for locking the gate. One of the arrested individuals claimed not to have the keys and eventually broke the lock with a wooden log, allowing Ms Wahome and her team to leave. According to reports, the individuals involved are suspected to be affiliated with the former official who is purported to have illegally acquired the land.

Ms Wahome has issued an eviction order, directing all unauthorized individuals to vacate the property by March 6. She emphasizes that only the rightful owners, two Indian nationals, should remain on the site. The legal owners have expressed their gratitude for the CS's intervention, with one owner indicating their intention to utilize the property for development projects in collaboration with other Indian individuals.

This incident underscores Ms Wahome's ongoing efforts to address land ownership disputes and ensure rightful owners reclaim their land. These actions align with President William Ruto's commitment to combat land grabbing in Kenya. The Ministry of Lands, under the leadership of Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, has initiated a nationwide effort to reclaim public land that has been unlawfully acquired. This action is in response to President William Ruto's directive to remove individuals who have unlawfully occupied public land, especially land that was designated for prisons.

During a visit to Trans Nzoia County on January 17, President Ruto emphasized that the illegal occupation of Kitale Prison land posed a significant obstacle to development plans. Additionally, the President mentioned the possibility of relocating prisons to facilitate the construction of a new city. President Ruto issued a strong call to action, urging all individuals holding public land illegally to surrender the parcels to the Ministry of Lands.