My Life Is In Danger — Landowner ‘Threatened’ By Duale Reports To Police

A man cautioned by Cabinet Secretary of Defence Aden Duale last week has given a statement to police in Eldoret, alleging that strange people have been following him.

Wilson Too Chepsilonge, whom Duale warned to stay away from a Kenya Defence Force (KDF) Recruits Training School (RTS) land in Kamagut, Uasin Gishu, made the statement at Eldoret Central Police Station, claiming he fears for his life.

Chepsilonge, a retired teacher, claimed that some cartels are interested in the 3,500-acre parcel of land owned by one of their 500 members.

“We paid all land rates amounting to Ksh. 26 million and we have all the bonafide documents to the land, we have no issues with military land in question because ours is different,” Chepsilonge told the BBC.

Human rights activists, led by Centre Against Torture (CAT) CEO Kimutai Kirui, condemned the CS’s remarks, stating that they are a recipe for violence.

Kirui has urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to intervene and take action.

On March 28, while touring the disputed military land in Kiplombe, Kamagut, Duale was overheard mentioning Chepsilonge and daring him to submit his documents to the land ministry for verification.

He also accused Chepsilonge’s son of sending a message to him (Duale) and Lands PS Nixon Korir requesting ‘help’. He claimed Chepsilonge’s son offered 100 acres in exchange for an unnamed favour.

Human rights activists, led by Centre Against Torture (CAT) CEO Kimutai Kirui, condemned the CS’s remarks, stating that they are a recipe for violence.

Kirui has urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to intervene and take action.

On March 28, while touring the disputed military land in Kiplombe, Kamagut, Duale was overheard mentioning Chepsilonge and daring him to submit his documents to the land ministry for verification.

“There is a man called Chepsilonge, he is from Kapsabet. I want you take (tell) this to him, if the title he has is original, I want him to go to the land commission office on Tuesday to tell them to verify the paper. We are ready to present evidence that the document that cartels, led by Chepsilonge, are carrying around is fake,” Duale stated. 

He also accused Chepsilonge’s son of sending a message to him (Duale) and Lands PS Nixon Korir requesting ‘help’. He claimed Chepsilonge’s son offered 100 acres in exchange for an unnamed favour.

“Our KDF have firm instructions to deal with Chepsilonge. I will deal with him. I want to help you all to get title deeds. When you see Chepsilonge, take a cane and chase him.”