Team set up to arbitrate land dispute
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto follow proceedings during a public baraza at Narasha Primary school grounds in Naivasha, Nakuru County. The President asked a committee formed Thursday to help end land dispute in the area. Photo\PSCU
What you need to know:
- The Head of Sate said Naivasha had a lot of resources which could be exploited for the benefit of local people and create employment opportunities.
A committee was set up Thursday to arbitrate the land dispute between pastoralists and farmers in Maiella, Naivasha.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said the committee would recommend how best to resolve the 20-year conflict.
The 11-member committee will consist of three people from Ng’ati Farmers Cooperative Society, three from the pastoral community and MP Ken Lamanken of Narok East and his Naivasha counterpart John Kihagi.
Interior Cabinet secretary Joseph ole Lenku is expected to chair the committee assisted by his Energy counterpart Davis Chirchir and one other person, yet to be named, from power generating company KenGen.
The committee will, among other things, look into ways of resolving the more than 20-year-old land dispute and suggest ways of dealing with the issue.
“We should give the committee time to come up with recommendations that will ensure peace prevails among communities residing in the area,” said President Kenyatta.
He appealed for peace as the team gets down to work and assured that their recommendations would be made open and satisfactory to the warring groups.
The President criticised last week’s eviction of locals, saying, even the execution of a court order should be done in a “civilised manner.”
“A court can make a ruling on a certain issue but execution should be done in a civilised manner. What was witnessed here is totally unacceptable,” said the Head of State.
He said his government was looking for ways of compensating herders who lost property and animals during the eviction.
The Head of Sate said Naivasha had a lot of resources which could be exploited for the benefit of local people and create employment opportunities.
Deputy President William Ruto also condemned the evictions, saying the rule of law must be upheld at all times and people’s property respected.
“Even evictions should be carried out in an orderly manner,” he said.
He said leaders, including himself and the President, would lead by example in the respect of the rule of law, saying they would work together with all the stakeholders in ensuring peace prevailed.
There was a tense as the President arrived as a swam of bees flew over as local congregated at the meeting venue but no one was injured.
