The 4,292-acre Muthera Farm in Mau Narok, Njoro sub-county of Nakuru County has been at the centre of conflicts for years over its ownership and administration.
The farm is part of an estate owned by the family of former Cabinet Minister the late Mbiyu Koinange.
Court battles between the late Koinange’s family and individuals claiming ownership of the land have continued for a long.
The legal battles have continued to cause tension in the area among settlers and farmers relying on the land for their livelihood.
This is even true for the Koinange family, who maintain that they are the rightful owners of the vast Muthera Farm.
A meeting called by the Managers assigned by the Family to chat way forward did not materialize on August 16, 2024, after a section of youth armed with machetes became rowdy at the farm claiming ownership.
Police officers from Mau Narok Police Station had to come in to restore sanity.
Addressing Press at the Farm, Koinange’s family maintained that they are the legit owners of the Muthera Farm, adding that they will not tolerate any invasion on the same.
According to the late Mbiyu Koinange’s grandchild Sedrick Mbiyu Koinange, the former employees of the Farm have been the reason behind the tussle.
He added that the land registration was technical but the matter has been addressed and the land is in the right ownership as per the Title Deed.
“We have the land now fully registered under Mbiyu Koinange’s family and as a family, we shall not allow any invasion on the Farm. If anyone has a court order let them come and show us. Whenever there is the invasion the farmers have suffered great loss and this has to stop,” he stated.
These sentiments were echoed by Francis Njenga- one of the Managers of Muthera Farm.
He pointed out that in the past there had been a gap on matters of ownership from developers to Mbiyu Koinange.
Justice Muchelule would later 2020 make a ruling on the succession matter giving Koinange’s family the ownership and the same was confirmed in 2022 by Justice Ogolla.
Njenga faulted the late Ole Mpoe’s family for tampering with the ownership of the Farm.
“The brokers have no room to lease this land. Let them provide evidence of relevant documents,” he noted.
He noted that as Managers they will continue to work closely with Koinange’s Widows Margaret Njeri, and Edna Wanjiru on the matter of safeguarding the interests of the family.
Former Manager at the Farm Samson Ngurunya who served between 2020 to 2022, says there were subdivisions and managers were assigned to manage the various potions.
He was quick to point out that there had been no issues on the farm.
The former Manager called on the government to ensure the protection of the Koinange family urging the security agencies not to allow the family of Mpoe to mess up the ownership of the land or cause havoc.
“We subdivided the farm into 12 portions that are well managed by the Managers appointed by late Koinange’s family.
Human Rights Activist James Maina Mugo on his part noted that the Court ruling on Muthera Farm has been very clear.
He was quick to point out that the Court ruling has been implemented with the issuance of a title to Mbiyu Koinange’s family.
“We call on the Government through the Land Registry to fast-track investigations into the ownership of Muthera Farm to avert further harm,” he said.
The Farm hosts more than 1500 farmers who carry out various farming activities for economic growth in the area.
This is even as another faction associated with the family of the late Land activist Moses Ole Mpoe claims ownership of the same parcel of land in Nakuru’s Mau Narok area.
The faction led by Joseph Mpoe maintained that they were the right owners of the land.
Addressing Journalists at the Farm, Joseph Mpoe said he would not allow invasion on the Farm.
“As the Mpoe family, we want to state here that there is no conflict of ownership here and we shall protect our land,” he stated.
However, when reached for a comment on the matter, Mau Narok Assistant County Commissioner Fredrick Mwanda stated that the Government is very clear that the Muthera Farm belongs to Koinange’s Family.
He warned individuals who are out to use force in claiming ownership of the land.
According to the Administrator, the law will face up to the youth being used.
He at the same time called on government officials in the area to ensure they work within the law and that anyone contesting the ownership of the land should also use the right channels.
“You cannot acquire land through force and threats. Let them be warned that the law will face up to them. Managers of the farm should not be harassed,” he said.
It should be noted that the late minister, a close confidant of founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta left an estate and property valued at more than Ksh 30 billion.
Mbiyu Koinange passed away on September 2, 1981, at Nairobi Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.
