Maasai herders kicked out of disputed land

There was anxiety in Naivasha after heavily armed police officers evicted members of the Maasai community who had encroached on private land.

During the Sunday morning incident, over 100 armed officers demolished and burnt down manyattas that had been constructed on the land.

The vast farm is currently under dispute between the management of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) and Isahakia community members.

Maasai herders took advantage of this stand off to drive their animals, in the hundreds, onto the land.

The eight-hour operation, that was led by senior Government officers, saw hundreds of livestock driven off the land with their owners giving a stern warning not to return.

One of the senior officers who declined to be named accused some Maasai leaders of lying to their community that the land belonged to their ancestors.

The officer noted that the land invasion had raised anxiety in the area, which is host to flower farms and private homes.

"There are some politicians inciting the Maasai and we are warning them that they face arrest should they continue to do so.

Our officers are on the lookout to make sure there is no more encroachment," he said.

Isahakia Community Chairman Ali Faarah welcomed the eviction adding that the land in question belonged to their forefathers.

He accused some senior Government officers of trying to grab the land from them and questioned the timing of the Masai invasion.

Suspicious timing

"We have a case in the High Court between us and Kari and we are questioning the timing of the invasion just when the case is about to be completed," he said.

Mr Faarah said the community has legal documents from past governments and accused Government officers of blocking them from acquiring the land.

But according to one of the Maasai leaders Enock Kiminta, the land had been leased by their forefathers to the colonialists but the Government took it over after independence.

Kiminta said the community had obtained agreements signed between the two parties in 1904 adding that the lease had expired.

"We believe the Government is ready to solve all historical injustices meted on us by giving us the title deed," he said.

The leader said the land has been lying idle for the last 15 years and that their decision to drive their animals onto it for pasture was part of reclaiming it.