Nyandarua, Laikipia Clash Over Land for Affordable Housing Project
A land dispute between Nyandarua and Laikipia counties threatens to stall the construction of President William Ruto’s affordable housing project in Nyahururu.
Nyandarua County claims that the 7.23-acre plot earmarked for the project belongs to its Agricultural Mechanization Service (AMS) programme, which it considers a strategic infrastructure essential for future operations.
Conversely, Laikipia County insists the land belongs to the national government and is the largest available plot in Nyahururu town, suitable for constructing 995 affordable houses.
The disagreement surfaced during a public participation forum near ACK Church in Nyahururu, where Laikipia’s Chief Officer for Lands, Physical Planning, Energy, Housing, and Urban Development, Kenneth Kibaara, and AMS Nyahururu base manager Kariuki Njung’e expressed opposing positions.
Njung’e noted that AMS has existed since 1946 and was devolved in 2014 under the Constitution. He further stated that part of the land is under an active court case pursued by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for recovery from private developers.
Tenants living on the plot also opposed the eviction notice of three months, arguing that they were not consulted before the proposed demolition.
Nyandarua and Laikipia counties have a history of disputes over Nyahururu town, including property ownership, soil testing projects, and now the AMS land.
The standoff underscores ongoing challenges in county boundary management and property rights under Kenya’s devolved system.