Homa bay: A land dispute in Homa Bay County has become a significant security concern after a local leader accused his relatives of illegally seizing his ancestral land in the Gem East location of Rangwe sub-county. Speaker of Bunge la Wenyenchi, Homa Bay County, Walter Opiyo, has alleged that his cousins, who he claims are non-beneficiaries, disrupted a legally finalized succession process and proceeded to unlawfully subdivide the land.
According to Kenya News Agency, Opiyo asserted that the subdivision was carried out without complying with legal prerequisites, such as the absence of a government surveyor and official authorization. “They did the subdivision unlawfully. This has brought a lot of confusion because due process was not followed,” Opiyo stated.
The dispute took a controversial turn in early February when Opiyo was summoned before an informal clan tribunal, referred to as a Kangaroo court. The tribunal, led by Kiruo village clan elder Philip Ajuoga, ruled in favor of Opiyo’s cousins, instructing him to cease cultivating part of the disputed land. Despite his disagreement with the decision, Opiyo complied.
Opiyo further alleged that his cousins forcefully entered his land at night during the same month and ploughed it without his consent. He claimed that Ajuoga supervised the entire tilling process, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the actions.
Tensions escalated when Opiyo reportedly received threats of physical harm should he refuse to relinquish the land. “I met with the clan elder at the Rangwe market where he greeted me, but I did not reply. Then he told me that even if I do not respond, they have already achieved their goal and if I utter a single word then I shall not live anymore,” Opiyo recounted, highlighting fears for his safety and bringing the dispute into public concern.
Opiyo reported the incident to Rangwe Police Station, where an official record was filed, and he was provided with an OB number. Additionally, he wrote to the County Land Registrar seeking intervention, describing the subdivision of his ancestral land as an “unprocedural land transaction.”
Opiyo noted that disputes over ancestral land are common in the region, often stemming from the failure to follow legal procedures. “Many people fail to adhere to the law when dealing with land matters, and this creates unnecessary conflict,” he said. He urged residents to comply with established legal frameworks governing land ownership and succession, calling on local leaders and administrators to uphold the rule of law in resolving such disputes.
