MP in row with ranch over mine land control

A dispute has erupted between a cooperative society and a member of Parliament over land ownership in the iron ore mining zone of Taita Taveta County.

The problem started when Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu rallied his supporters to pass a resolution aimed at dissolving the 60,000-acre Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society where the mine is located.

Mr Mwadeghu told a meeting at Kishushe CDF hall that although the land was registered as a ranch, it did not have a title deed to exclusively claim its ownership.

“We are waiting for the community land Bill to be brought in Parliament in which I will be the first to recommend that the ranch be dissolved and the land returned to the community because it does not benefit the people who started it (ranch),” he said.

The lawmaker, who is not a shareholder in the ranch, said he was concerned that the management was negotiating with investors without involving the community.

SUSPENDED LICENCE
However, some sources claim the tussle is caused by the suspension of a mining licence of a firm Mr Mwadeghu had associated himself with.

Wanjala Mining Company had been operational in the area. Its licence was suspended last year after the firm failed to meet the laid down requirements by the mineral resources ministry.

One of the conditions was to seek consent from the land owners, which they did not do until Wednesday, when a meeting was held.

Instead, they wrote to the commissioner of mines withdrawing from Kishushe and Oza ranches.

A Kishushe ranch board member present at the meeting, Ms Matilda Walegwa, said they would not allow anyone on their land without their permission.

Ms Walegwa said the ranch was registered under the Cooperatives Act and any resolution concerning property and membership, could only be made by members and not a member of Parliament.