Protest as NLC orders for a fresh adjudication of Kerio valley land

Residents of Chepsigot in Kerio Valley demonstrate over allegation that wealthy individuals had grabbed Kapkomool community land[ PHOTO/KEVIN TUNOI]

The National Land Commission has ordered a fresh land adjudication in Kerio Valley amid a mad rush for property ignited by oil prospecting.

The vast semi-arid land is communally owned. A large part of it lacks registration documents, making it an easy target for speculators and grabbers.

In a gazette notice dated March 1, NLC revoked land adjudication conducted decades ago and sanctioned a fresh one covering thousands of acres for Lower Sego and Kapkomol clans.

The commission declared that the previous adjudication was not done properly.

“The commission recommends that a review of the entire adjudication process is undertaken by the NLC, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, the county government of Elgeyo Marakwet and clan elders with a view of solving the claim amicably,” recommended the NLC.

Fact finding

According to NLC Commissioner Samuel Tororei, who led a team on a fact finding mission to the region recently, many residents risked becoming squatters on their own land.

“It is baffling to find out an entire communally owned land has already been subdivided and registered among different individuals without the knowledge of the owners-who have been already rendered squatters in their own land,” he said.

The order for fresh adjudication has not gone down with some residents. On Wednesday, some members of Kapkomol clan blocked the busy Iten-Kabarnet road to protest NLC's decision.

“The NLC was misled by the wealthy individuals who are using some of our clan members to grab our ancestral land, we will not entertain such action,” said William Kimaru, a clan member.

According to Kimaru, some clan members who had migrated to other counties and highlands are determined to grab the land.

“Each member in the clan has a share but we are shocked that some went to NLC behind our backs and gave out false information,” said Kipkemoi Yator.

According to Yator, that some of those claiming the land had migrated to Uasin Gishu decades ago.

However, some residents have welcomed fresh land adjudication.

“We petitioned the NLC after we found out that some individuals who are not members of our Kapkomol clan had acquired documents proving they are the owners of our ancestral land. On probing, they told us they bought the land from certain individuals whom we do not know,” said Reverend Jonathan Kangogo.

He said the order by NLC to revoke the previous adjudication process will give room for all clan members to be involved after previous meetings to resolve the row turned futile.

Entire clan

“It is shocking that few people can take what belongs to an entire clan that has five sub-clans. We thank NLC for listening to our cries since we are fighting for the community since the land cannot be sold,” he said.