Sacco replacing rogue merchants in land matters
The Mountain Journal
Cooperatives eying land in Laikipia with Unison and Broadboaders leading the pack
Hundreds of residents who lost millions of shillings after they
were swindled by rogue merchants, purporting they have parcels of land for sale
through dubious firms.
After
the collapse of the companies, the potential buyers moved to law enforcing
agencies in a bid to recover their money from the dubious merchants in efforts
to accomplish their mission.
Mary
Wanjau a resident of Kanyoni village in Gatundu North the manner in which she
lost a parcel of land through a Thika based land buying company, that purported
to have identified a parcel of land on sale near Nanyuki.
Ms
Wanjau said she was conned after she failed to carry out due diligence
into the status of the property through the Laikipia Land Registry.
“After
I was unable to recover my money, I retreated to Laikipia Teachers Sacco (now
Unison Sacco) and bought a parcel in the Blue Gum area where am settled” said
Wanjau.
Under
the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) and county directors of
cooperatives, the saccos have diversified to buying cheap land that generates
income to the institutions and sub dividing land to members upon full payment.
We established that in Central Kenya the saccos and cooperatives are
competing in buying cheap land at between Sh350,000 and Sh600,000following the
trust bestowed by the majority of Kenyans .
For
the same the merchants sell at between Sh1.2 million and Sh1.7 million
depending on the location of the parcel.
The
leading saccos in land matters are Unison, Amica and Broadborders that help the
members and none members to have access to land for development.
Unison
Sacco in Laikipia County, lead in land buying, a trend that started in the
early 1990’s founded Teachers Estates now Ruai near Nanyuki town.
Since
then, Union has dealt with eight projects that have settled over 7,000 people
in Blue Gum, Rivian, Rumuruti, Jua Kali, Desai and Taji estate. Taji estate
will accommodate over 5,000 people on 542 acres of land.
Unison
Sacco CEO John Njogu said they are
presently dealing with Nuru estate, a plot going for Sh400,000 with an estimate
to settle over 5,000 people.
”
The sacco moved into real estate through Unison Housing for the interest of
members to have access to owning land at a cheap rate. What is offered by
merchants at exorbitant terms to our members and general public is
affordable,” said Mr Njogu.
In
November last year, Unison Sacco, Laikipia County Government and Nanyuki
Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco) entered into a pact to provide residents
in Nuru, Rivian and Nuru with clean water and sewerage facilities as part of
improving sanitation.
At
Rivian and Nuru estates, Unison has entered into a Sh34 million pact with
Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco) to connect the residents with
piped water and sewerage.
Amica
Saco in Murang’a established Amica Venture in 2017, which to date has bought
751 plots of land, out of which 593 have been sold.
According
to Amica CEO James Mbue 345 land owners have been issued with title deeds after
completing payment of the dues.
“Amica
has plots in the counties of Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nairobi and Murang’a,
with 158 plots yet to be sold,” said Mbue.
In
Laikipia county, he added all the 22 plots of land near Nanyuki were
bought once they were advertised, and in Kabirwa area next to Murang’a airstrip
out of the 95 plots 91 have been sold.
The
plots in Taji and Ravin through the partnership will be connected with piped
water and sewer lines following a directive by the Laikipia county government.
Broad borders Chairman Jeremiah Karemeri said they have assisted the members
to acquire land in the counties of Murang’a Laikipia, Kirinyaga among others.
“Being
a group started by youth with focus on settling families, we have managed to
issue titles to over 2,052 people. We have land under survey and tens of
titles in process in various land registry” said Mr Karemeri.
There
are more than 20 companies advertising parcels of land near Nanyuki town citing
they neighbour key pillars like Ol Pajeta Conservancy, Daiga Hills,
Mt Kenya among others.
DCI is
investigating some land fraud cases, after the Laikipia County Government
discovered that some PDP in circulation are forged.
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