A long-running dispute over a prime piece of land worth more than 10 million shillings in Uasin Gishu County is set to return to full trial after efforts to resolve the matter out of court failed.
The dispute pits Anglican Church of Kenya pastor John Kiprop Bor against retired civil servant Sophie Jepkemei Keitany over ownership of a 0.1-acre property in Cheptiret Block 3, Serwet, in Kesses Sub-County.
The Eldoret court had directed the two parties to pursue an out-of-court settlement, but four mediation sessions failed to produce an agreement.
Resident Magistrate Constantine Nyamboba Ogari subsequently directed that the case proceed to hearing on October 1, 2026.
“The hearing of the case will now proceed on October 1, 2026, and I direct the accused person to be provided with all documents, including witness statements, by the state counsel,” said Ogari.
The dispute has been in court for more than eight years and stems from allegations that the property belonging to Bor was fraudulently sold using forged documents.
Keitany, who is an aunt to Keiyo North MP Adams Kipsanai, was among three suspects previously charged over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of the land.
The other accused persons were high school teacher Mark Kibet Kibii and Samson Chumba. They denied charges of fraud, conspiracy to defraud and forgery and were each granted a Sh500,000 bond or Sh200,000 cash bail.
Court documents allege that between November 2018 and July 2019, the suspects conspired to defraud Bor through a purported land sale agreement involving the 0.1-acre property and a permanent house valued at more than Sh10.5 million.
The prosecution further alleges that the agreement was presented as a genuine document prepared by lawyer Elkana Chepsaigut, who had died in 2015, before the document was purportedly prepared.