MPs summon leading Naivasha farmer over land dispute

The Parliamentary Committee on Land has summoned Gordon Miller, a leading Naivasha farmer, over a dispute involving him and over 1,700 members of the Nanga Kihoto land buying company.

Speaking during a meeting in Nanga Kihoto land, Naivasha, Sunday, October 9, the committee’s acting Chairman, Paul Otuoma, said they would study documents presented to them by the feuding groups.

This came as the committee promised to resolve the dispute around the 1,442 acres in Naivasha within 30 days.

“We have listened to the grievances by the two parties and we will issue a report after 30-days so that this dispute can come to an end,” said Otuoma.

He said that the Muranga Women Representative, Sabina Chege, had brought the petition about the leadership battle to Parliament.

In her petition, Ms Chege, on behalf of the shareholders of Nanga Kihoto, urged the committee to probe attempted irregular transfers of land and fraudulent funds withdrawal from the company’s accounts.

She accused a former Director, Pharis Mburu Ngugi, of fraudulently and without authorization withdrawing a sum of Ksh 495,000 from the company’s bank accounts.

She also called on the committee to caveat on the parcel of land until an annual general meeting is held to resolve any outstanding issues.

The company’s treasurer, Francis Muheria, accused their rivals of attempting to sell  land amounting to 1,300 acres against the wishes of the members adding that the current committee dissolved and new directors elected adding that the members had lost faith in them.

In the last couple of months, Naivasha has recorded tens of bloody clashes involving land disputes with Mai Mahiu, Maella, Kosovo, Ndabibi and Moi Ndabi areas being the most affected.

Written by Diing Magot