Bid to solve land row hits snag
Lands minister James Orengo. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Fresh tensions emerge at disputed farm that ministry had earmarked for resettlement of IDPs
- Host community disgruntled by plan to allocate plot to displaced families
A meeting that was planned to iron out disputes surrounding a property set aside for resettlement of displaced families in Narok, now hangs in the balance after a local MP criticised its timing.
The meeting was expected to take place at the Rift Valley provincial headquarters in Nakuru between government officials, elected governors and MPs from Narok and Nakuru to resolve the land.
This follows fresh tensions that have emerged at Rose Farm in Mau Narok area where local politicians want the government to halt resettlement of 900 victims of the 2007/2008 post-election violence and Mau evictees.
Narok North MP-elect Moitalel ole Kenta said the meeting over the disputed land would not take place until the new county governments are in place.
Mr Kenta said he has spoken to the Special Programmes and Lands ministers to stop planned resettlement of IDPs in the land until county structures are established.
“We are not part of the meeting and have actually called on those planning it to wait until proper government structures are in place, and the local community consulted to craft a workable plan.
The 2,400-acre (860-hectare) farm has been at the centre of conflict since 2010 when the host community defied government efforts to resettle the displaced families from Nakuru.
The property was later leased to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and Agricultural Development Corporation to defuse tensions.
However, last month, the Special Programmes ministry revisited the issue when it promised to allocate part of the property to local squatters.
Allegations that a title deed was processed in the name of an unregistered group that was allocated 600 acres (240ha) has triggered another dispute.
A source said there were plans to conceal the deal by transporting 900 families to occupy the remaining chunk of the land despite security concerns raised by the Provincial Administration.
A group of people spotted at the farm digging pit latrines in what was interpreted as preparation to resettle the displaced families, sparked protests from local university students who are against the move.
