Senator seeks end to land rows
Nakuru County Senator James Kiarie Mungai (right) is embraced by a friend at a thanks giving ceremony at Mathare-ini Primary School in Kigumo, Muranga, on April 26, 2014. Senator Mungai has broken his long silence and waded into the volatile land disputes that are slowly raising tension in various farms across the county. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |
What you need to know:
- The more than 300 displaced families were moved to the farm in 2011 from Mawingu in Nyandarua County. They have not had any peace there as their livestock has been targeted by raiders.
- He said that Ng’ati Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Maela, Naivasha, was another time bomb as the society was embroiled in leadership wrangles.
- The Delamere farm has also not been spared as a private developer claims ownership of part of the land.
Nakuru County Senator James Kiarie Mungai has broken his long silence and waded into the volatile land disputes that are slowly raising tension in various farms across the county.
In the latest incident, several people were seriously injured when an armed gang attacked a camp for displaced people in Subukia.
During the Monday night raid at the controversial Hajji farm, a 38-year-old man was shot with an arrow and another suffered a cut on the head.
The more than 300 displaced families were moved to the farm in 2011 from Mawingu in Nyandarua County. They have not had any peace there as their livestock has been targeted by raiders.
The senator urged the county administration to look into the matter and beef up security. He said the neighbouring Ndonga farm, where another batch of IDPs was resettled, has not been spared either. It has suffered two attacks.
“I want to urge the county executive committee member for lands, Mrs Rachel Wanjiku Maina, to be proactive in terms of seeking solutions to land issues,” Mr Mungai said.
TICKING TIME BOMB
The senator said the land issues would continue to threaten peaceful coexistence of the residents unless the national government carried out a comprehensive audit of all fraudulent land deals.
He said that Ng’ati Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Maela, Naivasha, was another time bomb as the society was embroiled in leadership wrangles.
According to the county assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, the society’s officials have been in office for more than two decades and have refused to hold fresh elections.
However, he blamed the stalemate on the county’s administration which he said was interfering with the affairs of the society.
In another incident, 20 houses were destroyed at Gachuma Witemere farm, owned by the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), where two people were seriously injured.
Another land dispute pits the Isahakia community against the Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organisation in Naivasha.
The matter is pending in court. The Delamere farm has also not been spared as a private developer claims ownership of part of the land.
