Murkomen, Wahome under fire for snubbing Senate summons

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen. [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have been criticised by Senators for failing to appear before the Senate Lands Committee for deliberations over harassment of some land owners by goons in Kiambu County.

The Senators said that it was disturbing that Wahome and Murkomen did not show up to address the concerns of the residents of Two Rivers Crescent Estate in Ruiru, Kiambu County who have accused an influential individual of sending goons in efforts to evict them from the land they acquired legally.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa said that it was unfortunate that the residents who acquired the land from the family of former Director of Intelligence the late James Kanyotu were being threatened of eviction and even attacked by goons sent by an individual claiming ownership.

“The residents of Two Rivers Crescent Estate, some of whom have served this nation and retired acquired their parcels of land legally but they are now being intimidated by individuals sent by an untouchable individual; that is why we wanted the Cabinet Secretaries for Land and Interior here today,” said Thangwa.

The Committee Chairman Mohammed Faki informed members that CS Wahome has sent an apology since she was attending a Cabinet Sub Committee meeting chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki requesting to be allowed to appear before the committee at a later date.

The Mombasa Senator said that CS Murkomen who was supposed to respond on the issue of goons attacking estate residents had sent an apology since he was attending a National Security Committee meeting but had submitted his responses to the matters raised.

 “We are concerned that Wahome had not sent her responses to the committee which raised questions given that before she was appointed as a Cabinet Secretary she was an advocate for one of the interested parties, can it be the reason she was not taking the matter seriously,” wondered Thangwa.

The Chairperson of Two Rivers Crescent Estate Resident Owners Felisters Mwihia told Senators that most of their members purchased their plots within the estate as way back as the year 2008 and have been resident and in occupation there peacefully until the passing away of Kanyotu on February 14, 2008.

Mwihia told Senators that they paid the agreed purchase prices for our various plots and upon lodgment of transfer forms and fulfilment of the requirements for transfer and registration of titles in our names, we were issued with Certificates of Titles duly registered in our names.

She told Senators that Willy Kihara Kanyotu, who claims to be a son of Kanyotu, has sustained a feverish onslaught of barbarism against them by way of unprovoked physical assaults through armed and violent thugs, blatant trespass and invasion of private property by way of construction of permanent buildings.

“Kihara was engaged in barbed wire fences, digging of trenches, removal of guard posts, general destruction of property, re-survey of our plots and demarcation of new beacons with the aim of sub-dividing the land into smaller plots and selling them off to unsuspecting buyers,” said Mwihia.

She said despite the fact that several of them have moved to Court, sought and obtained injunctive orders  restraining the said Willy Kihara Kanyotu from his callous conduct, he has continued with bold contempt with his criminal conduct much to the silent observation and inaction of the local police, at the Ruiru Police Station.

Murkomen in written responses to the Committee, said that in regard to attempted illegal eviction, there has been no cases reported by the residents but where such attempts are made, the NPS and the DCI will deal with the matter according to the law. Any other criminalities if also reported shall be dealt with according to the law.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary said that Willy Kihara is a legally recognized beneficiary of the estate of the late James Kanyotu, courtesy of Succession Cause No. 1239 of 2008, and a confirmed grant of letters of administration issued by the High Court and was allocated 13 plots during the distribution of the properties.

“Most of the plots within the said Two Rivers Cresent estate are claimed by the said Willy Kihara Kanyotu owing to the said direct gifting of the 31 plots to him by the late Mr. James Kanyotu, and secondly, owing to the alleged sale and transfer of the remaining 43 plots being highly suspected to have been fraudulent and violated Succession court orders,” said Murkomen.

The Senate Committee directed the Inspector General of the Police to ensure that those who do not own land in the estate not to interfere with its operation and that the 76 residents who acquired land should not be evicted as the matter is being addressed.

The Senate Committee further directed the Lands Cabinet Secretary and the Interior Cabinet Secretary to appear before it on Thursday next week since the matters raised by the estate residents specially to do with goons attack as serious and need to be addressed.