The Koguta community in Muhoroni Sub-County has called on the government, through the Ministry of Lands, to hand back their ancestral land and direct the National Land Commission (NLC) to carry out proper subdivision so that every family can reclaim its portion.
Speaking to the media in Muhoroni on Monday, Koguta community leader Hesbon Oyoo Odero said the National Land Commission had in 2019 returned the community’s ancestral land to them, but they have since been displaced by private developers associated with the leased Muhoroni Sugar Factory.
“We are here to tell Kenyans that the people of Koguta in Muhoroni are suffering. Some individuals have grabbed our land. We were hopeful to plough, plant sugarcane, and deliver to the factory, but the people who were given Muhoroni Sugar Company have now encroached on our farms,” said Oyoo.
Oyoo accused the factory’s new owners of using police officers to intimidate residents, claiming the government was engaging in double standards by returning land to the community and later allowing private developers to occupy it.
“These people are using police to scare us from our farms. There’s no agreement between us the land belongs to the community. We are asking the government to stop practicing double standards by giving land back to us and then quietly giving it away to Muhoroni Sugar Factory leaseholders,” he added.
Another resident, Onditi, appealed to the Ministry of Lands to expedite the subdivision of the land, saying farmers had already raised funds for the exercise, but the ministry had failed to act, citing lack of money.
“The Ministry of Lands should serve the people, not individuals. We want the account number so we can deposit our money and have the land subdivided,” said Onditi.
The residents also lamented the lack of essential services such as schools, markets, and health centres, claiming that land meant for such public amenities has been taken over by private developers managing Muhoroni Sugar Factory.
The controversy stems from President William Ruto’s decision to lease several state-owned sugar mills, including Muhoroni Sugar Factory, to private investors. The factory was leased to the Kipchimchim Group for 30 years, a move that has sparked resistance from local communities, sugarcane farmers, and political leaders who argue that the leasing process ignored the interests of residents whose ancestral lands host the factories.
