By County Team
Corruption is on the rise in Mt Kenya region with civic leaders engaging in frenzy to grab public land ahead of the General Election.
Some councillors are being accused of colluding to sell cemeteries, cattle dips, market stalls and real estate owned by councils.
A survey by The County Weekly has discovered that widespread grabbing of public land is underway in Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a and Laikipia Counties.
And our investigations show that the public utility most favoured as a target for grabbers is cattle dips.
Good opportunity
The Central Provincial Director of Veterinary Services (PDVS), Peter Njau has sounded an alarm over the disappearance of land set aside for cattle dips in the region.
In his annual report covering the 2011 financial year, the PDVS says Murang’a County leads in the disposal of cattle dip land with the status of dips in nine villages at stake.
The report names the villages as Kamune, Kiamutuii, Karunge, Ruru, Iruri, Koro, Gatunguru, Gatore and Kagongo. Another 14 cattle dips are reported to have been demolished in Kangema, Kandara and Murang’a.
In Kirinyaga County, cattle dip plots at Kombuini, South Ngariama and Kiamugumo villages have been grabbed.
The PDVS recommends that the Government gazettes all dip plots and put them under the Director of Veterinary Services as a public trustee.
There are a total of 1,108 cattle dips in the five counties in the province translating to almost the same number of acres of land at stake during the transition.
