The Ministry of Lands has confirmed that active negotiations are ongoing to resolve the longstanding land dispute in Narok County involving the family of the late former Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Cheluget and the current occupants of the disputed land.
The 5,800-acre parcel has been the subject of legal and political contention for over two decades. Around 600 people are reported to have occupied the land between 1999 and 2000, subdividing it and erecting structures despite the land legally belonging to Cheluget, who was allocated the property in 1997. Subsequent court battles including rulings from both the High Court and Court of Appeal have consistently favored the Cheluget family.
Addressing the issue, Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir dismissed recent media reports accusing President William Ruto of misleading the public over the government’s intentions. Korir termed the reports as “misleading and sensational,” affirming that structured talks are underway to ensure a peaceful and permanent resolution.
“We’ve had several meetings with the family led by former PS Nancy Kirui Cheluget and her brothers. They are in agreement with the President’s position, and the process is progressing,” Korir said.
President Ruto, while speaking to residents in Sogoo, Narok, acknowledged the historical injustices and challenges faced by the current land occupants, many of whom have lived there for over 15 years under the threat of eviction.
“We have agreed as the government that we are going to buy that land and allocate it to those people so that they can continue living there,” Ruto announced, directing the newly posted Amalo Deputy County Commissioner to fast-track the process with relevant government departments.
The President’s directive signals a major shift toward resolving the dispute through state-led land acquisition, aiming to balance justice for the original landowners with humanitarian considerations for the current settlers.
Korir emphasized that the government is committed to finding peaceful solutions to historical land injustices, particularly in Narok and other parts of the country where such tensions persist.
