Six raiders killed in clash over land

Six suspected raiders were early on Saturday killed in a botched attempt to evict inhabitants of a disputed piece of land in Trans Nzoia County.

The six were in a group of armed people who had begun torching houses on Mengo Farm in Saboti constituency. Villagers overpowered the raiders and killed the six.

“They attacked at 5 a.m. and set our grass-thatched houses on fire so as to scare us away,” said Ms Zainab Wanjala, whose house was burnt down. The raiders had evicted the occupiers before torching the houses but the villagers regrouped and overpowered them. They had set four houses on fire.

Five others were arrested while their colleagues fled.

“Police are looking for the other suspects since locals fear that they might strike again at night,” area Chief Protus Wechuli said.
The assailants are said to have been ferried from Kitale in a lorry. A few weeks earlier, the inhabitants had been warned to move out or be evicted.

“We had received several warnings that we should move out of this land yet there is a case pending in court to determine genuine owners,” said Mr Dismas Kundu.

DEALT WITH RUTHLESSLY

The residents said anybody who dares to evict them would be dealt with ruthlessly.

“We are telling those with vested interests that we will not be cowed by their threats to evict us,” said Mr Kundu.

The land is said to be at the centre of legal battles with individuals and groups laying claim to it. The parcel has no title deed.

Political leaders who visited the area took issue with a nominated MCA in Trans Nzoia County for allegedly being part of the botched eviction plan.

“It is clear that one nominated MCA was part of a meeting at a hotel in Kitale that planned this botched attack,” Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Janet Nangabo said.

Saboti MP David Wafula challenged leaders in the region to find a solution to the problem.

“This land dispute has seen several lives lost. We have to put politics aside to find a permanent solution that will avert more deaths,” said Mr Wafula.

UHURU BLAMED

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula blamed land disputes in the region on failure by the national government to tackle land injustices in the country.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta is doing a disservice to this country by resolving land tussles in selected parts while leaving out others,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

The Senate Minority Leader asked why police were not aware of the impending attack.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and his Kwanza counterpart Ferdinand Wanyonyi also challenged the national government to fully take up its role of securing the nation.

“The government should walk its talk as far as securing the nation is concerned instead of spending too much time on lip-service,” said Mr Wamalwa.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said the atack is a clear indication that the security law passed recently by the National Assembly was no panacea.

TOUGH TIMES

“We are telling the President to brace himself for tough times. The law he forced on Kenyans is not a solution to this country’s insecurity,” said Dr Khalwale

MCAs from Trans Nzoia who also toured the area vowed to come up with legislation that will see the landless in the region settled to avert feuds.

“Such disputes are also brought about by the national government when it resettles outsiders here yet we have many landless people in this county,” Sikhendu MCA Andrew Kutitila said.

Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba said his government has launched a programme to help locals meet the cost of processing land title deeds.

“We had to move in after a survey based on complaints indicated that most locals have not accessed land papers dating from the post-colonial era and thus giving room for feuds,” said Governor Khaemba.

He also noted that lack of title deeds was the major reason behind the numerous land cases the region was experiencing, with most people having acquired portions of land irregularly.