Mau forest and politics blamed for wave of chaos
Armed Maasai men attend a peace meeting organised by Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya at Olengape on September 24, 2018. Nine suspects have been arrested over the clashes, which police say are being funded by wealthy people. PHOTO | AYUB MUIYURO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The county leaders said the stand-off would not be resolved soon if crucial matters are not resolved.
- Senator Cheruiyot called on the two communities to stop fighting and asked leaders to intervene and address the root cause.
Succession politics, the Mau Forest question, bad blood between the two communities are behind the violence that rocked Olposimoru and claimed one life and leaving dozens nursing injuries.
Other underlying issues include historical land disputes and political incitement.
Speeches at the burial of a 42-year-old herder two weeks ago in Narok South, which sparked the attacks and counter-attacks from the same communities in the region, exposed the underlying current and historical issues affecting Narok County.
EVICTION
A section of the county leaders were categorical that the cause was tribal animosity.
Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina, Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta, former Narok County Council chairman Kelena ole Nchoe and local women leader Lydia Ntimama did not mince their words that the stand-off would not be resolved soon if crucial matters are not resolved.
“There is nothing to negotiate about with people who have taken over our land and destroyed natural resources. People must come out of the forest, and we do not want them to be used as political pawns in the 2022 succession politics,” Mr Kenta said.
They said they will not hold rallies in the region until those settled around the Maasai Mau Forest are evicted, indicating that the Mau Forest debate is behind the upheavals.
COEXIST
Deputy President William Ruto has come under attack for allegedly misleading families residing in the Mau Forest that the Nyayo Tea Zones had set up a buffer zone between government and private farm lands.
“The DP must be told that the Nyayo Tea Zones has planted tea inside the forest and must be removed to allow for indigenous trees to regenerate. The known boundary is that of trust land and cannot be changed,” Mr Kenta said.
The same Sunday when chaos erupted, Mr Ruto was leading an interdenominational fundraiser for 11 churches at Nkoirienito where he condemned the clashes and asked communities in the region to coexist.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot called on the two communities to stop fighting and asked leaders to intervene and address the root cause.
Narok Governor Samuel Tunai held meetings with a section of leaders in the wake of the skirmishes in Narok South, where measures were discussed and proposals put on the table towards ending the chaos.
