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Land rows dominate hearings

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Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 08:35

Land disputes between residents of Kericho and Nyamira counties dominated a public hearing on new boundaries organised by the electoral commission.

Kericho residents claimed their land had been transferred to Nyamira without their knowledge.

At a session chaired by Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Awal at Kericho Day Secondary School, the residents said that the land disputes were emotive and needed to be addressed once and for all for the sake of peace.

Take matter seriously

Bureti MP Franklin Bett petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take the matter seriously.

The Roads minister said Kerito and Sotik highland tea estates, which were once in Kericho District were mysteriously moved to Nyamira County, hence denying Kericho the revenue from the farms.

“We are left wondering who could have transacted the same without consulting stakeholders in the region,” the minister said.

He accused some leaders from Nyamira of orchestrating the move to have the tea estates in Kelunet and Ngoina sub-locations to suit their “selfish and political whims”.

The title deeds for the estates, he said, fell under Kericho District and called for an amicable solution to the matter to forestall atrocities between two communities on the common borders.

MPs Magerer Langat (Kipkelion), Charles Keter (Belgut) and Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) also attended the peaceful session.

During the hearings on Tuesday, the creation of two new constituencies; Sigowet and Kipkelion East was welcomed.

In Nyamira County on Wednesday, the IEBC was asked to give the area two more constituencies.

Blame politicians

MPs Wilfred Ombui (North Mugirango/Borabu), Walter Nyambati (Kitutu Masaba), George Nyamweya (nominated), Robert Monda (Nyaribari Chache) and Simeon Ogari (Bomachoge) agreed that North Mugirango/Borabu and Kitutu Masaba constituencies be split.

Former Kipkelion MP Sammy Ruto blamed the chaos over boundaries on selfish politicians.

“I ask my fellow politicians to leave the decisions concerning the boundaries to wananchi, because when politicians interfere, there are usually vested interests,” he said in Malindi on Wednesday.