Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has denied allegations that she has a personal stake in the ownership dispute over an 18-acre prime property in Loresho, valued at Ksh1.3 billion.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Lands, chaired by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, Wahome insisted her role in the matter was solely in her official capacity as Lands CS. She maintained that the land belongs to businessman Ashok Rupshi Shah and not former Provincial Commissioner Davis Chelogoi.

“My only involvement in this matter is as the CS in charge of Lands,” she told MPs, explaining that her visit to the disputed land alongside Ashok was meant to demonstrate government commitment to addressing fraudulent land dealings.

The CS reminded MPs that this was not the first time she had intervened in land disputes. She cited her involvement in resolving the Lavington Primary School land grab, where she issued a title deed for eight acres, and another case in Upper Hill.

“I have no interest in this parcel of land. There are a few of my officers who got involved and behaved in a manner that is not acceptable, and that is why I visited this area. My visit there was because there was fraud, and I was going to deal with it,” Wahome said.

She added: “I know I could be accused of taking the matter personally, but I am not. Sometimes our involvement in these matters is because we want to demonstrate our stand as a ministry.”

The CS further dismissed Chelogoi’s claim to the land, saying the documents he presented did not come from her office.

“Chelogoi has been charged with fraudulent transactions on this land. At the time I went there, the court had given orders that the police assist in the removal of goons. I say goons because I know that Chelogoi does not belong there. It was goons who were there, and I saw them with my own eyes,” she told the committee.

Wahome also cast doubt on Chelogoi’s ownership claim, questioning why he only obtained a title deed in 2021 despite claiming to have lived on the land since 1994.

“What we have submitted before you (MPs) are the records we have in the ministry. If Chelogoi claims to be the owner of the land, then let him bring documents that are credible and verifiable,” she said.

But MPs pressed the CS further. Committee Chair Nyamoko told her that they had evidence showing Chelogoi had occupied the land for nearly three decades and had developed it by planting blue gum trees.

“Madam CS, as a committee we are not siding with anyone. What we are doing is trying to unravel the truth about this matter,” Nyamoko said.

Kaloleni MP Paul Katana challenged Wahome on why she physically visited the land in the company of Ashok, noting that there are many other unresolved land disputes in Kenya where she had not intervened.

“Why Kenyans think you are conflicted is because you physically went there, yet there are so many land disputes in this country that you have not involved yourself in. Kenyans are asking what authority the CS is using to take the land,” Katana said. He added that the committee had received a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) report recommending Ashok’s arrest over alleged fraud tied to the property.

Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari, a surveyor by profession, also raised concerns. He said he had documents from the registrar of land recalling Chelogoi’s title deed for cancellation, as well as another letter stating that Ashok’s survey was not approved by the Survey of Kenya.

“I have not seen any explicit judgment on this matter allowing you to go and settle Ashok on that land,” Gitari told the CS.

The committee pledged to continue probing the matter in a bid to establish the rightful owner of the multi-billion shilling property.