Woman seeks justice after land deal with policeman turns sour

In October 2022, Joyce Chepkoech’s search for a piece of land led her to police officer Joshua Okerio Okworo Amisi, a resident of ex-Margaret area along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.

Chepkoech and her friends visited the land and confirmed that it was indeed for sale, as a signpost had been erected.

She said she took Amisi’s contact details, and they agreed on a date and time to meet.

“The man said he was selling the land at Sh1.5 million but agreed that I pay Sh1.2 million,” she said.

At the time, the land title deed was being held by Juhudi Kilimo Company Ltd, having been used as security for a loan.

Chepkoech said they agreed with Amisi that they would head to Nakuru town, as she wanted to confirm whether the title was with the lender.

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While in Nakuru, Chepkoech decided to seek the advice of a lawyer.

“When we arrived in Nakuru, the lawyer I met asked that we first confirm whether the title was with the institution the man claimed to have borrowed a loan from,” she said.

Chepkoech said they went to Juhudi Kilimo, where they established that the man owed Sh216,966.26, and indeed, the title deed to the land being advertised for sale existed.

“We reached Juhudi Kilimo, and they confirmed to us that the title deed was there. We were informed that if we cleared the loan, the title deed would be sent from Nairobi in a week,” she said.

Having confirmed that the title deed was with Juhudi Kilimo, Chepkoech said they returned to the lawyer.

Initially, Chepkoech wanted to pay the officer Sh500,000, but he asked her to pay Sh700,000 as he needed to settle some debts.

She also conducted a search and confirmed that the land was registered in Amisi’s name.

“I paid him Sh700,000 through the lawyer; the balance was to be settled upon receipt of the title deed,” she said.

She said that after a week, she received a call from Juhudi Kilimo informing her that the title deed had been sent. Amisi said they met at her lawyer’s office, where she cleared the balance.

After another week, she said, they proceeded to execute the transfer.

In 2023, she prepared the land and planted maize and beans.

In September 2023, she decided to pass by the land to check on the crops, only to discover that someone had fenced off the land and dug a pit latrine.

She said she inquired from a neighbour about the fencing and was informed that another neighbour had been contracted to carry out the work. She was also informed that the land had been sold to another woman.

While they were talking, a woman showed up.

Chepkoech said the woman claimed ownership of the plot, Shawa/Gicheha Block No 5/671.

She later realised that her title deed indicated plot number Shawa/Gicheha Block No 5/675, which is located adjacent to Block No 5/671.

To her surprise, Shawa/Gicheha Block No 5/675 had a permanent house on it.

“The lady asked me why I had destroyed her fence, and I asked her why she had fenced off my land. She had a title deed and I had mine. I checked hers only to realise it indicated plot 671, while mine read plot number 675, which is already occupied,” she said.

She noted that the police officer had been taking her in circles, repeatedly promising to find her another parcel. Chepkoech wants the specific land that was sold to her.

At one point, she said, Amisi told her that he was a police officer, that she would get nowhere, and that she would have to wait until he found her another parcel of land.

“I have a title deed, but I’m not in possession of the land. The officer has been taking me in circles,” she said.

She now wants the National Police Service Commission to intervene and order the officer to honour the deal.

When contacted, Amisi confirmed that he knows Chepkoech. He said he had told her to wait, and that he would give her another parcel.

Amisi said there was a mistake which he would sort out and address. “I will give her another piece of land that is not occupied,” said the officer by phone.