MCAs protest Olkiombo land take over, urge President to intervene

Some Members of the Narok County Assembly (MCAs) have protested the alleged illegal takeover of 4,726 acres of community land in Olkiombo within the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The MCAs said they respect the courts but strongly disagreed with a ruling that granted Livingston Kunini Ntutu authority to collect levies and revenue from the disputed land. They are demanding urgent national government intervention and accusing Ntutu of orchestrating a land grab disguised as development. "We respect the judiciary, but this particular ruling must be challenged. It is unconstitutional for an individual, no matter their office, to take control of Trust land and its revenue streams. This land belongs to the Maasai community," said Deputy Speaker and Melili Ward MCA Salau Dapash. "We are appealing to the President as a father of the nation and defender of justice. He has returned Mau Forest and Amboseli to the people; Olkiombo must follow. The Maasai must not be reduced to squatters on their own land," said Mika Ololgeso, the MCA for Mosiro Ward. The MCAs alleged that the land, which sits in a prime tourism corridor near the Maasai Mara, was allocated irregularly, without any form of public participation or proper legal procedures. They accused County Attorney Allan Meingati of failing to represent the county and the public in court, and demanded his immediate removal. "As the County Assembly, we allocated Sh400 million to the County Attorney's office in the last budget to defend the county's legal interests. Yet, he stood by and watched our people lose their land. That is gross misconduct, and he must go," said Lemiso Kimiti of Keekonyokie Ward. Also present at the press briefing were MCAs Salash Kisotu (Suswa), Mibei Kipsang (Mogondo), Kipngeno Chepkwony (Mara), Ezekiel Rono (Ilkerin), Samuel Towet (Oloolmasaani), and nominated MCA Seneyio Torome. The leaders raised concerns for their safety, saying that one of their colleagues was trailed by suspicious vehicles on Wednesday night, a move they believe was meant to intimidate them into silence. "We are being followed, stalked, and threatened for defending the truth and the people. We demand full police protection and an investigation into these acts of intimidation," said Kipsang. The MCAs further condemned what they described as a climate of fear and compromise, which they say forced nine key community appellants to withdraw from the case, effectively weakening the legal challenge to the land deal. "This is no longer just a land issue. It is about the rule of law, transparency, and public trust. When citizens and lawyers are threatened, democracy is under attack," added Samuel Towet. The MCAs announced plans to mobilise grassroots protests and to file formal petitions with the National Land Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

MCAs protest Olkiombo land take over, urge President to intervene

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MCAs protest Olkiombo land take over, urge President to intervene

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