Over 200 members of the Bayete Farmers Cooperative Society residing on a section of the disputed 655-acre land in Uasin Gishu County have filed a case in the Lands and Environment Court in Eldoret to prevent the property from being re-demarcated. The contested land is divided into two blocks, with the Bayete members owning 335 acres, while the remaining 335 acres are owned by members of the Wendani Farmers Cooperative Society.
In the case, filed under a certificate of urgency, Bayete members—led by Margaret Jepchumba Kigen, Chesudin arap Moso, John Rono, Peter Njoroge, and Henry Okwemwa Ocharo—are seeking court orders to restrain Kapseret Sub-County Assistant County Commissioner Abigael Bett from interfering with their land. Ms Kigen expressed concerns that without an interim court order, there is a risk of chaos and incitement on the property.
The Bayete members accuse Ms Bett of leading a committee to handle parcels of land under Ngeria/Kesses Block 5 (Bayete), with the intention of cancelling their titles and subdividing the 335-acre plot. They claim that two meetings were held last month, organized by Ms Bett and attended by Wendani Farmers Cooperative Society members, during which it was resolved to enter their land with private surveyors.
Ms Kigen asserts that the land was duly surveyed by government surveyors and that they were issued valid title deeds, which have not been cancelled or altered. Through their lawyer, Evans Miyenda, the members argue that neither Ms Bett nor the Wendani Cooperative members have the authority to interfere with their property and must respect the existing titles.
The Bayete members are requesting that Judge Elijah Obaga issue an injunction preventing the assistant county commissioner, along with 15 representatives from Wendani FCS and their associates, from trespassing, surveying, or attempting to subdivide the land pending the suit’s resolution.
Other defendants in the case include Irene Chebon, Peter Mwaura, Kiprono Singoei, Jonathan Sang, Nelson Too, Kimaiyo Cheserek, Jinaro Mwangi, and Kennedy Cheruiyot. The Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, and Uasin Gishu County Land Registrar, Francis Yator, have also been named as defendants. The land in question forms part of LR No. Ngeria/Kesses Block 5 (Bayete), which the Wendani group claims was not properly surveyed, leading to the cancellation of some titles. The case is scheduled for mention on October 16.”
