Ganze Residents Fear Losing 10,000 Acres Community Land to Fraudsters

By Robby Ngoba

Residents of Mnagoni and Mapotea group ranches of Ganze Subcounty in Kilifi County are living in fear of losing approximately 10,000 acres community land through irregular sell by ranch officials.

The dispute has sparked outrage between locals, leaders, and government officials with accusations of fraud, abuse of office, and attempts to dispossess the community of its ancestral land.

According to Ganze deputy county commissioner (DCC) Steven Kariuki Gitau the Mnagoni Group Ranch measures approximately 21,000 hectares while that of Mapotea Group Ranch is 15,221 hectares.

He says the land belongs to the community, and ranch committees are only custodians entrusted with its management.

“The land belongs to the people. The committee is only a custodian and must act in the interest of the community. Members should invoke the constitution, and the outgoing committee must hand over to the newly elected one,” he adds.

The DCC described the alleged sale as “impunity of the highest order” noting that the current committee has overstayed in office.

He stated that authorities were investigating claims that a lawyer was in possession of the land title deeds and that there were attempts to link the transaction to a government-backed purchase.

“We have received a letter from an advocate claiming to hold the title deeds. There are also allegations that the government is behind the purchase and that local administrators are interfering. We will follow up to ensure justice is served,” the DCC said.

Residents say they were first alerted to the alleged sale by the acting assistant county commissioner Stephen Thethe sparking widespread concern across the affected villages.

Elisha Yeri, a resident of Dolo Village, claimed that the committee behind the sale has been citing powerful connections within government circles to push the deal through.

“We are told there are two investors interested in buying the land, but we are not selling,” he said. “This is being done fraudulently. It is painful that land meant to protect the community is now being sold by the very people we trusted.”

The controversy has also drawn the attention of national leadership with youth affairs and creative economy principal secretary Fikirini Jacobs dismissing the alleged sale and directing the production of the original title deeds.

“The land will not be sold. Those attempting to sell it are thieves because they are trustees, not owners. I have instructed the lawyer to avail the mother title, and the new committee must take charge,” he said.

The PS warned that thousands of residents stand to be affected if the transaction proceeds and revealed plans to convert the ranches into community land to strengthen ownership rights and prevent similar disputes in the future.

“We have engaged the governor, and the process of converting this land into community land will begin soon. The community must have secure titles.”

The ranches were established to protect communal land from fragmentation and external encroachment.

These ranches were originally formed to secure land for local communities, safeguard grazing areas, and prevent land grabbing.

However, over the years, weak governance structures, leadership wrangles, and lack of proper land documentation have exposed many group ranches in region.