Group claims Solio Ranch ownership, threatens to invade and subdivide it amongst themselves
The Mt Kenya Times 
Guchokanirira Kihato Traders and Farmers Company chairman Kimunya Kamana (centre), Francis Karangi (Secretary) and Patrick Theuri (Assistant Secretary) at Senior Chief Wambugu Palace near Nyeri town when they briefed journalists yesterday on the company's Saturday meeting.
By Rodgers Wagura
Worth Noting:
- The 94-year-old said most of the original members of the group were either dead or aged like him and wanted the new administration to assist them get their land,”before we die”.
- Mzee Kamana who served as the Mayor for Nakuru after the 1992 General Election said after the ultimatum time, they would hold a meeting and chat the next course of action which includes how to invade the vast piece of land that lies in Laikipia County at its boundary with Nyeri County.
- The chairman informed the meeting that they have written to the President urging him to help resolve the protracted land tussle which they claimed was complicated by among others, former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo and former Juja MP Stephen Ndichu.
A section of former freedom fighters want the government to speed up their settlement in a land, partly currently hosting wildlife.
The group, Guchokanirira Kihato Traders and Farmers Company says they were allocated the land nearly 50 years ago but they are yet to settle there.
The slightly over 2,000 members says the land, measuring about 110,000 acres was given to them by the founding father of the Nation, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1973 but it has since been excised with only 58,000 actress remaining.
This remaining part is commonly known as Solio Ranch, a sanctuary housing different wildlife including the endangered Rhino.
During a Special General Meeting held at Karindundu area in the outskirts of Karatina town in Mathira constituency, Nyeri County on Saturday, the members gave the government a three months ultimatum to resolve their settlement or they invade the vast land, subdivide it amongst themselves and settle there.
Led by their chairman Kimunya Kamana, the members said their patience was wearing out and could not wait any more.
They called on President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to assist them have the ownership issue and their settlement resolved once and for all.
“We have waited for 49 years to get this land. We went in the forest to fight the colonialists so that we can get back our land and that is why we’re are demanding to get this land which rightfully belongs to us,” Mzee Kamana said.
The 94-year-old said most of the original members of the group were either dead or aged like him and wanted the new administration to assist them get their land,” before we die”.
Mzee Kamana who served as the Mayor for Nakuru after the 1992 General Election said after the ultimatum time, they would hold a meeting and chat the next course of action which includes how to invade the vast piece of land that lies in Laikipia County at its boundary with Nyeri County.
The chairman informed the meeting that they have written to the President urging him to help resolve the protracted land tussle which they claimed was complicated by among others, former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo and former Juja MP Stephen Ndichu.
The meeting was told the late Njonjo made then loose the land documents which led them to move to court and get awarded the land but they are yet to settle after a group led by Ndichu started claiming ownership.
He said in 1973, they paid Sh300,000 to acquire it.
Mzee Kimunya claimed Njonjo had used threats, intimidation and the police to confiscate their allotment letter together with the title deed and that is where the struggle to regain their ownership documents started and is yet to be fully settled.
In court documents the chairman showed the members and journalists, Njonjo had sought to strike out a case filed by members, arguing that the contested land was public and the court did not have jurisdiction to hear it. He also denied allegations of abuse of power to block the farmers from owning the land.
But then High Court judge dismissed the claim, saying the farmers had raised a case that could be heard by the court.
In a subsequent appeal by Njonjo, the then Court of Appeal judge also ruled in favour of the farmers.
In a document dated April 10, 1996 and signed by one Ms J W Mugo for the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Provincial Administration, the Commissioner of p
Police was instructed to comply with a court order to the effect that the confiscated documents be returned to the owners to avoid further litigation.
But Mr Kimunya said the documents had not been returned to them.
In their latest attempt to get their land through formally writing to the authorities, the letter addressed to President Ruto says in part, “With various rulings and decrees in our favour, we sincerely believe that the most prudent action that can be taken by the relevant offices is to assist members of Guchokaniriria Kihato get back what is rightfully theirs.”
The Saturday meeting was attended by hundreds of members drawn from Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nakuru, Nyandarua and Laikipia counties.
They elected new company officials where Mzee Kamana will be the chairman.
Other elected included Francis Karangi as the Secretary and Mrs Nelly Muchugu as the Vice Chairman.
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