I borrowed Sh19, 000 from my cousin, he turned me into a squatter in my land

When he was born in 1945, Joseph OtienoOmondi happened to be the only son to his father. Unfortunately, his father died when he was still young and had to live with a relative for some time. But after he became strong enough to survive on his own, he returned to his Sirongo village in Rambula, within Ugunja Sub County.

In the 1980s, he became so ill that he could not afford medication. He approached his cousin, BenardOdero to borrow money for treatment. Omondi says Odero had one condition, he needed something as guarantee for refund of the Sh19, 000.

Having nothing but only land, Omondi offered title deed for his parents’ land. After he had felt better, he says he approached Odero, with the aim of discussing how he could refund the money.

“Since I was not in good shape financially, I proposed that I could give him part of the land, commensurate to the money I owed him, or slightly higher so that he could add me something,” said Omondi.

Omondi says his cousin begun to be dodgy, only for him to discover that he had subdivided the over five acre piece of land and transferred to his wife and one son. Efforts to have the land taken back to Omondi’s name have been futile. With Odero being the area Member of County Assembly, Omondi claims that every government office has been rejecting his plea to look into the matter, with some officials claiming that the leader is well connected and is able to alter land documents at will.

“As we speak, I am a squatter in my father’s land, but my days are moving very fast, and I want this matter sorted before I die so that my two sons remaining will not have a problem with someone over land,” said Omondi.

Omondi contacts: 0718556340