Nyong'o vows to defend Kisumu's Baby Pendo Park from land claim

Kisumu County is contesting a claim on the land hosting Baby Pendo Park after an individual said to be claiming ownership padlocked the gate and removed the facility's signboard, governor Anyang' Nyong'o said.

Nyong'o said he was alerted by a young person who reported that the individual had visited the premises at night, put a padlock on the gate and pulled down the signboard while claiming the land. He said he contacted other county officials before visiting the site to establish what had happened.

The governor said the county would not surrender the approximately 3.4-acre public facility, which was converted from a dumpsite into a recreational park through public investment. According to him, the county found the land neglected and heaped with garbage, cleared the waste, rehabilitated the area and planted trees, turning it into a space now used by residents.

“If this was genuinely private property, he should have come forward when we started developing it. Why wait until we have finished the work before claiming that the land belongs to you?” Nyong'o said. “As the county government, we have a responsibility to protect public land and investments in Kisumu. We will not allow anyone to take over what we have developed for the benefit of the public.”

Nyong'o challenged the claimant to present supporting documents through the appropriate legal channels, saying the county was ready to have the dispute determined in court, and condemned the night-time actions as improper. The Star reported that it had not established the identity of the individual or individuals behind the claim by the time of publication.