LAND INITIALLY RESERVED FOR CDF OFFICE / CHIEF’S CAMP, MARKET, DISPENSARY and WATER DAM (DIP) GRABBED AS GOVT WATCHED HELPLESSLY ~ LIKUYANI RESIDENTS
In summary;
- 4 prime PUBLIC plots registered in Jim’s name
- The area and County leadership remains tight-lipped
- Bandi was NOT an initial shareholder
- The accused’s version
- #iKUWEiKUWE Corner
#iKUWEiKUWE Investigation into this Mind-boggling land-grabbing saga was ignited by a phone-call from a disgruntled resident of Likuyani location in Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County in mid April 2019. The caller sort to have #iKUWEiKUWE Movement help them have a certain land grabber return several pieces of public land back to the government. The gentleman who wished to remain anonymous informed that many had made several fruitless attempts to get both governments attentive enough to their concerns. Some of the residents gave up on legal battles since they used PERSONAL RESOURCES to defend GOVERNMENT land weirdly so through government processes as elected leaders and key administrative/lands officials looked the other way. #iKUWEiKUWE through ikuweikuwe.com swung into action.
I first sort to get contacts to Kakamega CEC Lands, the Accused land-grabber and other references/witnesses. After making enough calls first to witnesses, references which included a man of God who had once faced Jim in court over the same issue… I concluded my investigations by calling Jim Bandi and Kakamega’s don’t-care CEC before I reached out to Hon. Brian Mafunga, MCA LIKUYANI. I was in constant consultations with now a team of 3 youthful men who were pushing the agenda but still wanted to remain anonymous.
Jim Bandi, the accused was both intimidating and cooperative… He shared information but warned me not to dare publish anything against his wishes for it would attract court battles, battles he’d easily win. I assured him that I’d consider mentioning his comments in my publication.
After collecting enough EXCLUSIVE data from former provincial administration officers, Jim Bandi, Reverend Njomo and other interested parties I compiled an article which I shared with the my guys in Kakamega who upon reading and acknowledging how deep it was, asked me NOT to publish for they wanted to quietly use the IMPORTANT info #iKUWEiKUWE got from Jim (a person non of them dared contact for fear of the unknown) to further their investigations… The next thing I saw clips showing an NGO claiming to be behind the push at a function that took place on 11th Dec 2020 where the provincial administration and county govt held a baraza to address the issues surrounding grabbed public land… I got pissed off that’s why its taken my a full month to publish this story.
HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC PARCELS OF LAND;
The VIHIGA FARMERS COMPANY existed way back in the 80’s. It comprised of like minded entrepreneurs who came together to invest in land… At some point they resolved to share the acquired land amongst themselves.
The parcels were shared on 27th November 1990 an exercise that was presided over by then provincial commissioner at IVUGWI PRIMARY grounds…
LUGARI /Â LIKUYANIÂ BLOCK
• 252 households
• Several pieces of land were set aside for public use
JIM BANDI who was then a Mumias Sugar employee and NOT an initial shareholder happened to buy shares from one member. He and Silvanus Boss were allocated ONE plot number 11 using ID No. 1116687/64 (See Doc 1, page 2)
Plots RESERVED for PUBLIC use according to documents in our possession were as follows;
1. Diocese of Kakamega (School) – Plot Plot 59
2. Water Dam (now DIP) – Plot 137
3. PEFA Church and SDA Church  – Plot 199
4. Reserved for Market – Plot 207
5. Ivugwi Primary  – Plot 213
6. Diocese of Kakamega (school)  – Plot 226
7. Diocese of Kakamega  (school)  – Plot 227
8. Salvation Army – Plot 239
9. D.I.P. (now Chief’s office)  – Plot 240
10. African Divine Church – Plot 241
11. African Israel Church – Plot 243
12. Friends Church – Plot 244
13. Registered Trustee of PAG Church – Plot 245
14. Dispensary – Plot 246
FAST FORWARD
According to the OFFICIAL SEARCH CERTIFICATE from the MINISTRY OF LANDS the ownership of the following PUBLIC land in VIHIGA COUNTY have changed hands;
The following PUBLIC plots located in KAKAMEGA County, Likuyani Sub-County, Likuyani Ward have been GRABBED by one person;
1. DISPENSARY (Ivugwi village)
• Parcel number; Lugari / Likuyani  block 1 / VIHIGA / 246
• Approx. area 3 acres
• Grabbed on; 04-10-2001
• New Owner; JIM MATIA BANDI
• Baptist church had built a dispensary, BANDI brought it down
• The building was repaired into an orphanage… he recently (2years ago) beat and chased children. Case still in court… The church then moved kids for their safety
• Bandi has started constructing on the said land.
• The DC Ayienda who allowed subdivision is now the same who is asking “who gave consent?”
• Jim Bandi has sold part of the land to a policeman
• Residents sort the DCIOs 2013/4 and again this year… In the later visit the residents (elders included) they elders were told to go to court.
2. RESERVED FOR WATER DAM (Ivugwi village);
• Parcel number; Lugari / Likuyani block 1 / VIHIGA / 137
• Approx. area – 3 acres
• Applied for land transfer; 10-10-2013
• Title deed issued; 28-10-2013
• New Owner; JIM MATIA BANDI
3. RESERVED FOR MARKET (Musalaba Village);
• Parcel number Lugari / Likuyani block 1 / VIHIGA / 207
• Approx. – 8 acres
• Applied for land transfer; 10-10-2013
• New Nos. 749-801 (57) – Issued on; 28-10-2013
• New Owner; JIM MATIA BANDI
4. CHIEFS CAMP/CDF/AP CAMP (Ivugwi village);
• Parcel number; Lugari / Likuyani block 1 / VIHIGA / 240
• Was initially a cattle dip, purpose changed in 1995
• Approx. area – 2 acres
• Applied for land transfer; 10-10-2013
• Title deed issued; 28-10-2013
• New Owner; JIM MATIA BANDI
For more details refer to documents below;
Doc1 – VIHIGA FARMERS COMPANY – Subdivision and Issuance of Title deeds
• Dated 27th Nov 1990
Download: Doc1 – VIHIGA FARMERS COMPANY – Subdivision and Issuance of Title deeds
Doc2 – Minutes of the Board meeting and other documents (Suspect/Fictitious)_
• Dated 13/01/2001
• Jim Bandi took advantage of his position as a secretary to cook documents (as indicated by former VFC members)
• The fraudulent process … triggered a chain reaction of forgery and finally grabbing of Dispensary land
Download:Â Â Doc2 – Minutes of the Board meeting and other documents
Doc3 – Communication from District Land Registrar_
• Re-affirms that plot 246 was fraudulently acquired and that it belongs to the govt.
Download: Doc3 – Lands commissioner letter questioning fraudulent process
Doc5 – Meeting Minutes presided over by Asst. chief madam Diana
• Gives authority to faith Baptist church to put up a dispensary..
• Note from the minutes one of the former caretaker Mr Avwonda states clearly which plots were set aside for public use
#iKUWEiKUWE Movement has in its possession tens of related documents that we aren’t able to share now BUT are willing to present to the authorities if need be.
“As the secretary to the caretaker committee that included Sub-chief, Chief, DO, DC and was chaired by Provincial commissioner the late Lekolol our mandate was to oversee subdivisions. After completion of the exercise our committee was immediately disbanded by the PC thru a govt order. I got no further information on what transpired after but all I know is by the time of subdivision some plots had NOT been registered” said Mr Alphonce Avwonda
TESTIMONIES;
1. Rtd. Snr. Chief, Peter Likwiro (was chief at the time)
2. Rtd. Asst. Chief, Jason Arap Too (participated in allocation)
3. Snr. Asst. Chief Seregea Sub-location, Diana Owano
4. Aq. Chief Likuyani location, Luseno Lusava Cornel
5. Mr. Njomo (Pastor, Faith Baptist Church) is in court with Bandi over plot 246
The accused, Jim Bandi on his side claimed that the high-court cleared him by nullifying those allegations and according to him there was no Dispensary, CDF or chief’s Centre as he offered to share a court order to that effect;
Audio;Â Likuyani land grabbing – Jim Bandi – 2020-04-30_15.26.301395826586
#iKUWEiKUWE Corner:
The biggest huddle(s) those who dare challenge Jim Bandi in court face is;
1. LACK COMMUNITY SUPPORT; One finds him/herself fighting solo against a man who according to them has CORRUPTED the entire system and has gotten his way most times.
2. LACK GOVT. SUPPORT; Despite the several letters from govt offices declaring that land (abcd) belongs to the govt… Implementation of the same has not been forthcoming… ZERO goodwill for lack of a better word.
• #iKUWEiKUWE’s effort to seek Kakamega County Lands CEC Mr. Alfred Matianyi’s audience was unfruitful as he requested that we wait for Covid-19 pandemic to die before we organize to meet.
3. J.N. Ayienda, The Former DCCÂ LIKUYANIÂ Sub-County, Jim Bandi, and Kakamega County lands depart must be INVESTIGATED to ascertain who participated in the transfer and why.
4. #iKUWEiKUWE is in possession of more evidence to this land-grabbing saga, we are willing to share with the govt if need be
I therefore challenge the entire Likuyani populace to come together take on the corrupt persons/system they so badly want to defeat.
Audio; Govt declares war on land grabbers – Audio 2020-12-11
