Cabinet Secretary for Lands Alice Wahome has instructed parties occupying government land to leave.

In a press conference, Wahome recently took over as Lands Minister and warned of unscrupulous people duping Kenyans into buying lands with a shares certificate.

PHOTO | COURTESY CS Wahome

CS Wahome also entered into the Mavoko land controversy, which has seen untold worth of property razed in a contested land.

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"The ministry wishes to confirm that we are in possession of Mavoko land and all historical information," CS Wahome said in a statement to the media. 

"Any other documents purported to own the land do not originate from this office."

According to CS Wahome, East African Portland Cement Company owns the enormous stretch of property encroached upon by landgrabbers.

Following an investigation, she stated that the farmers' association, 'Aimi Ma Lukenya,' should compensate individuals harmed.

PHOTO | COURTESY CS Wahome

She also warned the people to exercise caution, citing instances of government officials assisting in land grabbing.

"There was a lapse in which government officers assisted in land grabbing." "In the future, the public should exercise caution when purchasing parcels of land," she added. 

CS Wahome was flanked throughout the briefing by Nixon Korir, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning.

PHOTO | COURTESY CS Wahome

Korir distanced the ministry from the recent wave of online and offline demolitions that enraged Kenyans, claiming that the Lands Ministry does not enforce demolitions.

He stated that the landowner handles the demolitions in collaboration with law enforcement.

The PS explained that the evictees had been given adequate notice to depart the land before demolition. According to a previous report, the former Machakos country governor had warned against purchasing the land.

"I write to request for an urgent investigation into ongoing corruption and land grabbing of East African Portland Cement Company Limited land L.R. No. 7815/1, 10424, 10425, 8784/4 and 8786 located at Athi River, Mavoko Constituency," Mutua said in the letter.