Muke Ya Muzungu
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 17, 2009
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Source: Michuzi & Standard Media
We Are Courting War if Land Conflict is Not Addressed
By Patrick Mathangani According to a study by The Centre for HumanRights
and Democracy, most of the land occupied by people who are not indigenous to the Rift Valley was acquired legally.The study, funded by the United States Aid Agency, sought to investigate allegations of historical land injustices often blamed for tribal violence in the area.In Nandi area, for instance, the study found that "a clique of about 20 people own over 80 per cent of the land in the area through individual names and companies".Said the report: "The historical injustices around land in this area is perpetrated by the local and national Kalenjin leaders against the grassroots poor people".The group also examined the contentious Nyakinyua farms in Uasin Gichu District.
The report said the land was initially acquired from a European settler identified only as Mr Sling. Nyakinyua farm was donated to Nyakinyua Women's Group by founding President Kenyatta and retired President Moi.It covers a total of 2,500 acres of which 1,000 was given to a group of Kalenjin women (Koiluget Farm), and a similar size named as Nyakinyua and Njogoo farms to a group of Kikuyu women. Squatters were settled on the remaining 500 acres, while 20 acres were set aside for public utilities, the report shows.It adds: "It is therefore not fair for local politicians to only point out one piece of the entire Nyakinyua Farm and say it is evidence of historical land injustices and leave out the other piece of equal size given out on the same day by the same authority. It amounts to historical dishonesty." The report warned that failure to address land as a source of conflict could send the country into civil war.
We Are Courting War if Land Conflict is Not Addressed
By Patrick Mathangani According to a study by The Centre for HumanRights
and Democracy, most of the land occupied by people who are not indigenous to the Rift Valley was acquired legally.The study, funded by the United States Aid Agency, sought to investigate allegations of historical land injustices often blamed for tribal violence in the area.In Nandi area, for instance, the study found that "a clique of about 20 people own over 80 per cent of the land in the area through individual names and companies".Said the report: "The historical injustices around land in this area is perpetrated by the local and national Kalenjin leaders against the grassroots poor people".The group also examined the contentious Nyakinyua farms in Uasin Gichu District. The report said the land was initially acquired from a European settler identified only as Mr Sling. Nyakinyua farm was donated to Nyakinyua Women's Group by founding President Kenyatta and retired President Moi.It covers a total of 2,500 acres of which 1,000 was given to a group of Kalenjin women (Koiluget Farm), and a similar size named as Nyakinyua and Njogoo farms to a group of Kikuyu women. Squatters were settled on the remaining 500 acres, while 20 acres were set aside for public utilities, the report shows.It adds: "It is therefore not fair for local politicians to only point out one piece of the entire Nyakinyua Farm and say it is evidence of historical land injustices and leave out the other piece of equal size given out on the same day by the same authority. It amounts to historical dishonesty." The report warned that failure to address land as a source of conflict could send the country into civil war.
