The ongoing 1000-acre land tussle in Njiru has taken a new turn as Kasarani Member of Parliament, Ronald Karauri, announced that he has filed a lawsuit to establish ownership of a 1000-acre parcel of land in the area.
While talking to the members of the fourth estate, Karauri claimed that the controversial land title deeds date back to 1904 and, notably, there is no mention of the land being transferred to the Kirima family.
He expressed concerns over the discrepancies in the title deeds, stating that the Kirima family presented a title deed that began in 2003, effectively causing the old title to expire.
Karauri pointed out the importance of clarifying the true owner of the land, given the significant impact on many lives affected by the ongoing case.
"If you look at the history, because of the evidence we've presented, we have an old title coming from 1904, there's no evidence of that land being transferred to the Kirimas, and curiously, the Kirimas presented a title deed that starts from 2003, at which point, the old title expires. There's no evidence of the transfer of that piece of land to the Kirimas, and that is why it's very important. Remember there are many lives being affected by this particular case. That's why we are here today to ask the court to establish the true owner," Karauri explained to reporters.
Today, we've taken a significant step in our quest for justice. We've filed a case in court to reexamine the decision that granted the disputed land in Kasarani to the Kirima family. It's crucial that we ascertain the true owner, as conclusive negotiations can only begin once we… pic.twitter.com/LxhUAvWvhy
— Hon Captain Ronald Karauri (@KarauriR) October 31, 2023
Karauri stressed the critical importance of legal action noting that he was relentless in the pursuit of justice for the people of Njiru.
Karauri emphasized the necessity to identify the true owner of the land, as meaningful negotiations can only proceed once the rightful owner is determined.
Additionally, he pointed out the lack of evidence supporting the Kirimas acquisition of the land from Domenico De Masi.
Therefore, Karauri urged the court to postpone any judgment until the genuine owner is identified conclusively.
"Today, we've taken a significant step in our quest for justice. We've filed a case in court to reexamine the decision that granted the disputed land in Kasarani to the Kirima family. It's crucial that we ascertain the true owner, as conclusive negotiations can only begin once we do. No evidence exists of Mr. Kirima acquiring the land from Mr. Domenico De Masi. We urge the court to pause the judgment until the rightful owner is identified," he wrote on his X account.
Ruto's intervention
Karauri's remarks swiftly followed the plight of Njiru residents who are confronting possible eviction subsequent to a court ruling mandating their exit from nearly 1,000 acres of land owned by the late politician Gerishon Kirima, who passed away in December 2010.
During a public gathering organized by Karauri in Njiru last week, the residents implored President William Ruto to intervene in order to prevent their eviction.
Karauri pledged to appeal the decision in court and concurrently initiate discussions with the Kirima family while standing alongside the residents.
“The first thing we are going to do is to appeal the judgment and seek time to meet the Kirima family so that we can save thousands of residents here from the impending evictions,” Karauri stated.
