Members of the Ndibithi Farmers’ Group in Naivasha town, Nakuru County, can now smile as the Environmental and Land Court in Nakuru has returned the 1,004-acre farm that was taken away from them by a wealthy individual 40 years ago.
The farmers say that the dispute began in 1983 when Benjamin Kulei went to court seeking to prevent the group from farming on the land, claiming it was rightfully his.
It is alleged that Kulei, who held a significant position within the Kenya Africa National Union(KANU) government, forcefully took the land from the farmers against their wishes.
Reading the court’s decision, Justice Lynette Omollo stated that Kulei failed to provide essential documents such as ownership deeds that would prove how he acquired the land.
Therefore, the court ordered that the 1,004-acre farm be returned to the farmers, with over 200 families.
