New Ng’enda company members reclaim 966 acres of land after 33 years of court battle

After 33 years of legal battle, now more than 1500 members of the New Ng’enda Company Limited have reclaimed 966 acres of land in Murang’a County.

The land said to have been bought by Ngenda New Farmers co-operative society in 1972 was reverted back to them after NLC chairman ordered the current occupant to vacate the land.

The land has been at the centre of a prolonged land dispute pitting tycoon Margaret Nyokabi Mbugua and her five children against Ng’enda New Farmers Company from Gatundu.

After clearance with Kerugoya Law Courts, the members mostly aged between 70 to 90 over the Easter holiday welcomed the verdict and made entry to the land that has been hard to access with court injunctions in place.

Speaking to the press, Ng’enda New Farmers Chairman Peter Ng’ang’a Kibe said the company would lay down plans to sub-divide the land after being given the green light.

“This week will see the surveyors come in to subdivide the land among our members. It has been quite a process and seeing the group at this stage is a big relief especially because 80 per cent of the members in this group are over 70 years,” said Kibe.

Kibe further warned unsuspecting land buyers not to fall into the trap set by land brokers who pretend they can sell them land there, citing that every member will have a title deed and would be the only ones allowed to dispose land to any new members.

Philip Keya, government surveyor who will be in charge of the subdivision, called for togetherness among the members in the process that will according to him take less than four months.

“In subdividing, peace will be needed among the members who have really fought for this land. There is a procedure that will be used to determine acreage of each and every member of the group,” said Keya.

The two parties have been feuding over ownership of 400 acres with shareholders persistently fighting for justice since Samuel Kibathi, who was the manager of the land, allegedly bought it before he died. His widow Nyokabi took over after his death but failed to avail all requisite documents after NLC gave her a three months grace period.

John Willy