Saccos replacing rogue merchants in land matters

Sacco replacing rogue merchants in land matters

The Mountain Journal

Cooperatives eying land in Laikipia with  Unison and Broadboaders leading the pack

Hundreds of residents who lost millions of shillings after they were swindled by rogue merchants, purporting they have parcels of land for sale through dubious firms.

After the collapse of the companies, the potential buyers moved to law enforcing agencies in a bid to recover their money from the dubious merchants in efforts to accomplish their mission.

Mary Wanjau a resident of Kanyoni village in Gatundu North the manner in which she lost a parcel of land through a Thika based land buying company, that purported to have identified a parcel of land on sale near Nanyuki.

Ms Wanjau said  she was conned after she failed to carry out due diligence into the status of the property through the Laikipia Land Registry.

“After I was unable to recover my money, I retreated to Laikipia Teachers Sacco (now Unison Sacco) and bought a parcel in the Blue Gum area where am settled” said Wanjau.

Under the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) and county directors of cooperatives, the saccos have diversified to buying cheap land that generates income to the institutions and sub dividing land to members upon full payment.

 We established that in Central Kenya the saccos and cooperatives are competing in buying cheap land at between Sh350,000 and Sh600,000following the trust bestowed by the majority of Kenyans .

For the same the merchants sell at between Sh1.2 million and Sh1.7 million depending on the location of the parcel.

The leading saccos in land matters are Unison, Amica and Broadborders that help the members and none members  to have access to land for development.

Unison Sacco in Laikipia County, lead in land buying, a trend that started in the early 1990's founded Teachers Estates now Ruai near Nanyuki town.

Since then, Union has dealt with eight projects that have settled over 7,000 people in Blue Gum, Rivian, Rumuruti, Jua Kali, Desai and Taji estate. Taji estate will accommodate over 5,000 people on 542 acres of land.

Unison Sacco CEO John Njogu  said they are presently dealing with Nuru estate, a plot going for Sh400,000 with an estimate to settle over 5,000 people.

" The sacco moved into real estate through Unison Housing for the interest of members to have access to owning land at a cheap rate. What is offered by merchants at exorbitant terms to our members and general public is affordable," said Mr Njogu. 

In November last year,  Unison Sacco, Laikipia County Government and Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco) entered into a pact to provide residents in Nuru, Rivian and Nuru with clean water and sewerage facilities as part of improving sanitation.

At Rivian and Nuru estates, Unison has entered into a Sh34 million pact with Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco) to connect the residents with piped water and sewerage.

Amica Saco in Murang’a established Amica Venture in 2017, which to date has bought 751 plots of land, out of which 593 have been sold.

According to Amica CEO James Mbue 345 land owners have been issued with title deeds after completing payment of the dues.

“Amica has plots in the counties of Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nairobi and Murang’a, with 158 plots yet to be sold,” said Mbue.

In Laikipia county, he added all the 22 plots of land near Nanyuki  were bought once they were advertised, and in Kabirwa area next to Murang’a airstrip out of the 95 plots 91 have been sold.

 The plots in Taji and Ravin through the partnership will be connected with piped water and sewer lines following a directive by the Laikipia county government.

  Broad borders Chairman Jeremiah Karemeri said they have assisted the members to acquire land in the counties of Murang’a Laikipia, Kirinyaga among others.

“Being a group started by youth with focus on settling families, we have managed to issue titles to over 2,052 people.  We have land under survey and tens of titles in process in various land registry” said Mr Karemeri.

There are more than 20 companies advertising parcels of land near Nanyuki town citing they neighbour key pillars like  Ol Pajeta Conservancy, Daiga Hills, Mt Kenya among others.

DCI is investigating some land fraud cases, after the Laikipia County Government discovered that some PDP in circulation are forged.

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