A committee led by Suba South Member of Parliament Karoli Omondi has intensified the push to restore over 10,000 acres of Miwani Sugar Factory nucleus estate to the public.

Mr Omondi told the parliamentary committee on land that the parcel was fraudulently acquired by the state.

The MP, who is the petitioner, made detailed submissions when the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands held a sitting at Miwani in Kisumu County on Friday during which locals also urged lawmakers to fast-track the matter.

“This matter has been pending for a very long time. The fraud started many years ago and has since been investigated. Courts have already determined that this is public land,” Omondi said.

He told the committee that there was no lawful auction of the land and that individuals and companies claiming ownership did not pay for it.

“We have established that there was no auction and no money was ever paid. Those claims cannot stand,” he said.

The MP further singled out Crossley Holdings, which claims ownership of the land, saying the company has no documentation to prove purchase.

“There is no evidence and no documents at all to indicate that Crossley Holdings ever bought this land,” he said.

Omondi added that investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had previously pointed to fraud in the attempted acquisition, reinforcing court findings that the land remains public.

He said the parliamentary process, including the public participation forum held in Miwani, would finally settle the long-running dispute.

“The committee has now come to the ground to hear directly from wananchi. We believe that in the fullness of time, this land will revert to the public,” he said.

Omondi also linked the dispute to broader issues in the sugar sector, raising concerns over the leasing of sugar mills, unpaid workers and failure to value key assets such as the nucleus estate.

“There are serious questions around the leasing of sugar mills. Workers have not been paid, suppliers are owed, and the nucleus estate was not valued. These issues must be addressed,” he said.

During the session, members of the Miwani community reiterated their historical claim to the land, tracing ownership back to pre-colonial settlement and arguing that colonial-era leases had long expired.

They urged the committee to expedite the petition, saying the prolonged dispute had denied them livelihoods and economic opportunities tied to the once-thriving sugar factory.

Muhoroni MP James Onyango K’oyoo backed the petition, citing previous court determinations and a government position that the land is public and held in trust.

The courts of Kenya have determined this matter up to the Court of Appeal and found that the claim to ownership was false,” K’oyoo said.

K’oyoo said he raised the issue in parliament where the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary for Agriculture were summoned and confirmed to the house that the land belonged to the community.     

“This land belongs to the community but we are concerned about the investor’s activities. He has now come back and is even cultivating part of the land,” he said.

He, however, urged residents to remain patient as parliament concludes the process, even as he accused individuals claiming ownership of illegally occupying and cultivating the land.

Other MPs on the committee also pledged to ensure justice is served.

Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron said the committee would stand with the community until the matter is resolved. Kirinyaga Central MP Gitari David noted that committee had taken into consideration all the concerns of the community and will ensure they are addressed.

The 10,000 acres of land if properly utilised, he said, had the potential of turning around the economy of the lakeside county.

Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire called for the petition to be fast-tracked as Kuria West MP Mathias Robi said preliminary review of the claim shows alleged owners lack documentation.

Kaloleni MP Paul Katana said all parties linked to the dispute have been summoned to appear before the committee, while Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi assured residents that issues raised during the meeting would be addressed.

Committee chairperson Joash Nyamache assured residents that the matter was receiving due attention, noting that the team had been handling the petition for the past three months.

“This sitting here in Miwani is part of the process of hearing the petition. We have been on this matter for the last three months,” Nyamache said.

He said the committee would retreat after the public hearings to compile a comprehensive report.

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report / By Chris Mahandara