Residents of Tulwobmoi in Rongai Sub-County, Nakuru County, took to the streets on Tuesday, December 16, to protest what they described as the illegal grabbing of a 16-acre parcel of public land donated to the community by former President Daniel arap Moi.
In a televised interview, the residents claimed that individuals now laying claim to the land have used a disputed title deed to secure a bank loan, raising fresh concerns over the fate of land set aside for public use.
The land, residents say, was allocated in the early 2000s for the construction of AIC Tulwobmoi Primary School, AIC Tulwobmoi Secondary School, and the AIC Tulwobmoi Church. For years, the facilities have served as the backbone of education and worship for families in the area.
During the protests, demonstrators demanded urgent government intervention to reclaim the land and return it to the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Tulwobmoi and the wider community.
Cornelious Kemboi, a local resident, said the community was shocked to learn that private individuals possess a title deed allegedly issued over the same parcel of land gifted to the public by the former Head of State.
“Where will the people of Tulwobmoi and their future generations go to school and worship if the land is taken away?” Kemboi asked, warning that the community stands to lose critical social infrastructure.
Another resident, Luka Tuikong, questioned the role of a local bank in the matter, claiming the institution issued a loan to the alleged land grabbers using the disputed title deed as collateral without conducting proper due diligence.
“Why would a bank give out a loan on land that is clearly occupied by public institutions?” Tuikong posed. “If the officials had come to the ground, they would have seen permanent school buildings and church structures already in place.”
Residents also revealed that they have written to the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Education, and security agencies seeking clarification on how land reserved for education and worship was transferred into private hands.
They are now calling for the immediate revocation of the title deed and the restoration of the land to the AIC church and the community.
The Tulwobmoi dispute reflects a broader and long-standing problem of public land grabbing in Kenya, particularly involving land set aside for schools, churches, playgrounds, and hospitals.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Lands directed principals, headteachers, and affected communities to submit documents and details of grabbed school land to Ardhi House as part of a nationwide reclamation exercise.
