The family of the late Nyanza Provincial Commissioner, Isaiah Cheluget, has welcomed the government’s decision to acquire their Narok South land to facilitate the resettlement of families currently occupying it.
Addressing the press in Nairobi on Saturday, the family, led by former Principal Secretary Nancy Kirui, confirmed they are in active talks with the government in a bid to resolve the long-running land dispute.
“We, the family of the late Isaiah Kiplangat Cheluget, the legally appointed administrators and beneficiaries of his estate, are in agreement with His Excellency the President’s statements at Sogoo, Narok South,” said Kirui.
“We have held several meetings with the President’s representatives, including the Principal Secretary for Lands, the Governor of Narok, and the Director of Settlements, as we work toward a lasting solution.”
Kirui revealed that they have formally offered to sell the contested land—L.R. No. ILMOTIOK/CIS-MARA/54, measuring 5.8 acres—to the government for the resettlement program.
“Our late father had on multiple occasions sought an amicable solution with the government before his passing in 2017. We are grateful to His Excellency the President and the Governor of Narok for their commitment to resolving this matter,” she added.
Regarding the succession and administration of the estate, Kirui clarified that the matter was conclusively settled by the High Court in Kericho, with a confirmation of grant issued on June 12, 2018.
This, as they urged the public to disregard claims made by any other individuals purporting to represent the family’s interests.
Following the passing of Cheluget, the Kericho High Court, she stated, appointed his widow, Raeli Chepkurgat Cheluget, along with Johnstone Kipkoech Langat, Laurence Kimutai Langat, and Kenneth Kipvegon Langat, as legal administrators of the estate.
The statement by the family comes in the wake of recent remarks by President William Ruto while on a tour of Narok South.
“We have held discussions with the Cheluget (family) and 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,” said the president while addressing the residents at Sogoo.
He directed the newly deployed Amalo Deputy County Commissioner to liaise with the relevant departments to have the matter concluded immediately.
A total of 600 people have been living on the land for over 15 years now.
They are said to have forcefully entered the land around 1999 and 2000, subdivided it and started putting up structures.
What followed were court cases both in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, which have all been ruled in favour of the family.
Cheluget, the former powerful Nyanza PC died on June 26, 2017. He is said to have been allocated the land in 1997.
Kirui, at the same time, reaffirmed their commitment to structured, lawful engagement with the government to resolve the dispute peacefully.
