This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
Published on November 25, 2019, a land dispute has emerged in Nairobi's Roysambu area, involving Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Jewel Complex Limited.
Jewel Complex Limited has petitioned the National Assembly's Land Committee, alleging that KDF and the General Service Unit (GSU) have grabbed their Sh2.8 billion prime land in Roysambu.
The company claims to have paid Uchumi Sh330 million as a deposit for the two-acre land, valued at Sh2.8 billion, and had entered into an agreement with Kasarani Mall Limited, a subsidiary of Uchumi Supermarkets Limited.
According to Jewel Complex Limited, they had developed an interest in LR No 5875 and LR No 23393, which they believed belonged to Kasarani Mall Limited. Uchumi accepted their offer to purchase the land at Sh2.8 billion, subject to certain terms and conditions.
However, it has emerged that the crippled Uchumi had initiated an amalgamation process for the two properties, and a new LR No 25544 had been issued for the two titles. An agreement of sale was entered between Kasarani Mall Limited and Jewel Complex Limited on September 20, 2018.
Jewel Complex Limited Managing Director Boniface Maina told the committee that the company had followed every set step with the Lands Registry and had paid the deposit to Messrs Hamilton Harrison and Mathews Advocates pending completion of the sale.
Mr Maina also stated that Jewel Complex Limited had inquired from the Ministry of Lands and Housing why the military had taken over the land they were buying and had already entered an agreement, but was informed that the matter was before Parliament.
Colonel Paul Njuguna, KDF spokesperson, refuted claims that the land was owned by any other party, stating that the Roysambu KDF Camp is on the Ministry of Defence land and that the issue of laying claim to a military camp does not arise.
