Retired President Moi receives praise for his role in increasing number of schools

By LEONARD KULEI and VINCENT MABATUK

Kabarak, Kenya: Former President Daniel Moi has been hailed for his love for education and his initiatives that saw many schools built during his tenure.

Speaking on prize giving day at Moi Primary School Kabarak (MPSK)  Rongai MP Raymond Moi, praised the former President for his contribution to education and encouraged parents to take their children to school to secure their future.

The MP, a son to the former President, called on the Government to employ more teachers in primary schools in Rongai sub-county, saying the few available are overwhelmed by the huge number of pupils.

He thanked the staff and pupils of the school for the good work they had been doing over the years.

MPSK attained a Mean Score of 378.5 in last year’s KCPE exams, with all the candidates achieving over 300 marks out of the possible 500, making it one of leading private schools in the country.

At the same time, the MP has asked National Land Commission to investigate human rights abuses perpetrated by foreign land owners in his constituency.

Speaking later at Kapsetek village, the legislator warned that unless swift action is taken, hundreds of people will be rendered landless even after working for many years for the foreigners.

The MP said land brokers and wealthy individuals were colluding with landowners to buy such farms cheaply before re-selling the same at much higher price, locking out the squatters who are then forcefully evicted.

He said the decision by a white settler, Maora Butler, and Kenya Farmers Cooperation (KFA) to dispose approximately 1,000 hectares at Kilombe farm under the occupation of more than 500 squatters last week part needs to be investigated.

“The action taken by AFC to auction the land secretly without informing me as a leader was wrong, the locals should have been given a chance but what transpired before the land allegedly exchanged hands needs to be investigated,” said Raymond who demanded for the disclosure of the purchase of the land.

Fourth eviction attempt

Michael Chelobei who claimed to have lived in the farm since 1970 said the original land owner, Michael Butler, who passed on a few years ago allocated them plots the mid 1990s  and they have been cultivating on them since.

He denounced claims by Mrs Butler that she was not aware about their existence, saying a majority of them still work in the farm as herders and that this was the fourth attempt by the woman to evict them amid resistance.

“We are also Kenyans and such treatment is against the provisions of the Constitution. We have called this place home for decades,” said Chelobei.

The 2,5000 hectared farm is a home to different communities including Turkanas, Luos, Kalenjins and Luhyas.

Peter Lokorio settled in the farm late 1960s and since then has lived with the owner as neighbours only until last week when the land was secretly sold to unknown person.

They promised to resist any move to evict them unless they are resettled in another place by the Government. “For the many years we have buried our relatives in this farm with the full knowledge of the owner, those under eviction are the third generation owners and they have no other place”, explained Lokorio.