William Ruto tours Eldoret amid land debate

The controversial Land Bill, grain farmers’ dwindling fortunes and the management of public universities are expected to feature prominently when Deputy President William Ruto tours Eldoret on Wednesday.

The DP will be at Moi University’s Rivatex factory to unveil a tablet-and-laptop manufacturing plant. Later, he will lay a foundation stone for the university’s 27-floor pension scheme building in Eldoret Town.

The disputed Land Bill, which aims to limit ownership, has caused an uproar. Farmers in the North Rift have strongly opposed it.

The Bill targets people who own large tracts of land in traditional agricultural areas such as Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Bomet, Bungoma, Vihiga, Kisii and Nyamira.

The drafters of the Bill argue that putting a cap on the acreage would ensure prudent use of land in the face of a growing population.

CALL A MEETING

But farmers have complained that the Bill is discriminatory. They want clauses that were contested four years ago amended.

The Maximum and Minimum Land Holding Bill of 2015 proposes that no individual should own more than 24.7 acres in the eight counties.

Farmers said the proposed changes are aimed at oppressing residents and have vowed to resist attempts to take away their land.

Mr Kipkorir Menjo, a director at the Kenya Farmers Association, threatened to include the clause in the Okoa Kenya referendum, which is being spearheaded by the Opposition.

“We want governors to call a meeting to discuss the Bill. Elected leaders should shoot down the Bill, if not we shall turn to Okoa Kenya,” said Mr Menjo, who is also Cord’s secretary of devolution.

Recently, governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo-Marakwet) met with the farmers and warned that should the Bill, which is before Parliament, pass, it would undermine food production.

“There is (a) need for further consultations. Some farmers have up to 3,000 acres, which they are utilising properly. This Bill should not see the light of the day,” said Mr Mandago.

The DP’s tour of his political backyard is widely seen as a way of sending a message to his rivals that he still has his grip on the region.

The tour comes just over a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the graduation of soldiers at the Recruits Training School in Eldoret.

Kanu’s activities in the Rift Valley have not gone down well with Mr Ruto’s URP allies.