A Belgium-based widow is crying for justice after what she claims is a private developer grabbed part of her prime property valued at Ksh70 million in Eldoret town.
The widow, Patroba Yator, says she has been seeking justice for the last 10 years.
In an interview with journalists, Patroba noted that she was forced to cut short her stay in the foreign country after she was alerted by a neighbour that a section of her prime two-and-a-half acre plot had been grabbed by the developer.
She notes that the developer took advantage of her absence to plot the scheme to hive off part of the piece of land in dispute.
Further, Patroba who is a widow says the developer has refused to surrender the land back to her, despite several pleas from the authority and family members.
“I have knocked almost all government offices including the judiciary and police seeking for justice but all in vain and I do not know whom to run to for help,” she told journalists at the disputed land.
Bought land from auction
According to the woman, she bought the prime plot through auction five years ago after the original owner failed to service a Ksh3million loan that he took from a local bank in Eldoret town.
“I paid the bank Ksh4 million including arrears amounting to Ksh500,000 whereby the bank gave the green light to take possession of the property and my efforts to secure a title deed for the same has hit a snag,” she said.
Patroba has now taken issue with the original owner of the plot for colluding with the officials in the ministry of land and the local administration to frustrate her efforts to secure the vital land document.
“He has given the condition that I forfeit the prime half acre of my plot in exchange for the title deed of only 2-acres and yet the loan I cleared for the entire two and a half acres land,” she said.
The fight for the property, the widow says, has taken a toll on her health and resources. She is now asking the government to intervene before she loses her property to her tormentor.
Police, reached for comment, confirmed to be aware of the matter.
Immediate former Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Ali Bule Samatar further said the woman had recorded a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“I am aware of the matter and I have instructed my officers to visit the disputed property with a view of resolving the issue to enable the widow to get justice without further delay,” the CCIO said.
