Kajiado, Kenya: A storm is brewing between Maasai leaders and owners of a private land set to be auctioned in Magadi division, Kajiado County.
The land, which is about 300,000 acres is home to close to 15,000 families who are facing eviction after a court in Kericho ordered they be evicted.
Led by Kajiado Governor David Nkedienye, they said it was wrong for a court to order for eviction of the families, yet that is their ancestral land.
“This is a bad ruling and out of touch with the reality. You cannot auction a whole division for just a few people yet they have been living there since time immemorial,” said Mr Nkedienye.
The Maa leaders vowed to resist any attempt to evict the residents of Shompole Group ranch and Ol Kiramarian.
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Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery claimed the persons behind the auction are some whites who came from Tanzania and could have ganged up with some Kenyans to grab the Maasai land.
Mr Nkaissery said the land belongs to the Maasai community and at no point will they allow any person to purport to sell or evict its residents. “We are aware those behind the auction are some whites from Tanzania. The Maasai have been living in the area and there is no way someone can come from anywhere to claim the ownership of the land,” said Nkaissery.
Addressing the Press on Thursday evening at a Nairobi hotel, the Maa leaders warned there would be dire consequences should Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo deploy police officers to forcefully evict the people who have been living in the disputed land.
Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko said they will not obey the court order because it is not consistent with the laws of natural justice. “How can land close to a whole division belong to a few people? We do not care about the court order. We will stand by our people and make sure that not even an inch of the land is taken,” said Tobiko.
