Two sisters have petitioned the government to intervene in a protracted land dispute, accusing corrupt officials, crooked lawyers, and unscrupulous politicians of rendering them homeless from what they consider their ancestral property, estimated at more than Sh200 million, in Kapsaret location, Uasin Gishu County.
Ms. Julia Chepkoech Gimnyigei and Esther Cherotich Gimunyigei have raised concerns over the increasing cases of land fraud in the county, allegedly orchestrated by some officials operating within fraudulent cartels. The sisters’ family of eight siblings claims to have been left landless after their ancestral property was allegedly grabbed under suspicious circumstances.
Speaking to the media in Eldoret City, the sisters called on the government to intervene in their plight, demanding a thorough public inquiry into the mysterious acquisition of their family land.
“We are appealing for a public inquiry into the mystery surrounding the grabbing of our family land, Eldoret Municipality, Block 24 (Kipkenyo) 88, which belonged to our late mother Mary Cheboo, a former Eldoret State House staffer,” Esther said.
The sisters allege that David Kimelli Leting, also known as “Kokwa,” and Grace Jebet Saina, acquired the 96-acre land through fraudulent means.
According to Esther, the property was still legally in the name of their late grandmother, Hannah Jelimo Tum, who had inherited it from her own mother. The sisters maintain that the individuals currently claiming the land are neither relatives nor known to them.
In a counterstatement, Leting argued that he purchased the land from the sisters’ late brother, Alfred Kipkorir Gimnyigei. Leting, who is the elected Member of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly representing Kipkenyo Ward on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, insists his acquisition was legitimate.
The sisters have expressed disbelief over how their late brother could inherit the ancestral land without their knowledge. They are calling for a probe into local DCI officials, accusing them of denying access to their late brother’s statement and obstructing efforts to investigate the suspected fraudulent transfer of the title deed.
Documents obtained by The People Tribune reveal multiple inconsistencies in the succession process. Letters from local land officials, provincial administrators, and lawyers contained contradictions regarding rightful heirs.
For instance, in one letter, Area Chief Philip Chemwok confirmed that all eight family members had inheritance rights. However, three years later, he disowned seven siblings, recognizing only Alfred Kipkorir Gimnyigei as the sole heir in a letter dated July 4, 2019, without providing reasons.
After protests from Ms. Julia Cherotich, the disowned siblings were reinstated, and the land registrar was authorized to proceed with succession for all eight members.
Despite this, the succession process stalled for more than three years. In response, the sisters intervened at the lands office to restrain the sale of the land through a letter from their area assistant chief, Cleophas Kiprono, dated September 21, 2020.
Investigations revealed that the land legally belonged to the late Tum, with their mother, the late Cheboo, serving as trustee. Yet, on November 26, 2020, a title deed was reportedly issued to their late brother Alfred under unclear circumstances, even though the succession process had not been completed.
Further investigations indicate that the title deed ended up with David Kimelli Leting, whom the sisters claim is unrelated to the family.
In a memo dated November 23, 2021, Ms. Julia Cherotich demanded to know who authorized the transfer, signed the relevant forms, and sanctioned the Land Control Board minutes allowing the transaction.
Additional documents show that prior to his death, Alfred Kipkorir Gimnyigei informed the DCI that Leting had the new title deed, though he did not know how it was acquired.
The sisters say their repeated letters to the DCI requesting disclosure of their late brother’s statement and calls for an investigation into the suspected fraud have yielded no results.
They continue to demand a public inquiry to identify those responsible for the irregular succession, restore their rightful inheritance, and hold accountable the officials, lawyers, and politicians allegedly involved in the fraudulent land grab.
The case has brought attention to wider systemic challenges in land administration, highlighting loopholes that unscrupulous actors exploit to misappropriate property, often leaving rightful heirs dispossessed.
The sisters’ petition underscores the need for transparent processes, accountability in public service, and strict oversight of land transactions to protect citizens from similar injustices.
