'Malicious and unfounded': Lands PS Korir dismisses claims of irregular dealings in Kibiko land

The Ministry of Lands has moved to defend itself against accusations of irregular dealings in the contested Kibiko land, insisting that all actions taken by its officers have been above board and guided by court rulings.

In a statement on Saturday, Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Nixon Korir dismissed as “malicious and unfounded” claims linking senior officials to alleged illegal subdivision and title issuance on the 2,600-acre Keekonyokie Community Trust land in Ngong, Kajiado County.

“Our attention has been drawn to malicious and unfounded allegations against the Principal Secretary and other officers of the Department in relation to land in Kibiko, Kajiado County, which has been the subject of disputes for more than a decade,” the statement read in part.

The Ministry maintains that court processes and legal requirements have guided every step taken in relation to the land, which has been at the center of rival claims and community protests.

According to the Lands Department, the property – registered under Keekonyokie Community Trust since 2012 – has been tied up in multiple court cases since 2014, with successive court orders restraining any subdivision, transfer or disposal until hearings were concluded.

In March this year, the Kajiado Environment and Land Court ordered Moses Parantai, one of the rival trustees, to surrender the original title deed to the Chief Land Registrar within 72 hours. In default, the court directed issuance of a provisional certificate of title in the names of trustees led by Moses Monik. The ministry says it complied with that directive.

“The Courts issued a judgement, which the State Department has implemented, and it is not right for those dissatisfied with the ruling to engage in innuendos and falsehoods,” the statement added.

It further noted that a surrender of title was registered in July, paving the way for subdivision based on a members’ register and approvals from the Land Control Board and Kajiado County Government.

The Ministry also took issue with the role of local leaders, accusing the Kajiado County Lands CEC of fueling tensions instead of pursuing resolution. “The CECM…has rather been engaging in outright attempts to exacerbate the dispute,” the statement charged.

The Kibiko land saga has divided the Keekonyokie Community Trust into rival factions, one led by Parantai and another by Monik, each claiming legitimacy over the land’s management. Recent protests by community members accused Lands officials of colluding with cartels to grab the property in defiance of court orders.

But the Ministry maintains that anyone aggrieved should return to court rather than malign public officers. “Any aggrieved party has the right to seek redress from the Courts that have been handling the dispute since 2014,” it said.