Church to help resove land feuds in Trans Mara

By LEONARD KORIR

The Catholic Church in Trans Mara has launched a three-year programme aimed at resolving rampant land conflicts and food insecurity in the area.

The programme comes at a time when the region is in individualising land ownership from the current group ranches.

Under the programme, the church intends to sensitise and train 90 community leaders and paralegals to help direct community members on how and where to seek legal redress on land conflicts.

The programme’s theme is Community Land led-conflict Awareness and Management for Improved Food Sovereignty. The training will also cover conflict resolution and transformation, negotiation and monitoring skills.

 Addressing a sensitisation and planning workshop in Kilgoris, Catholic Diocese of Ngong Vicar General Fr John Ntiseyia said they will form joint rapid response teams with neighbouring Kisii and Homabay dioceses. The teams will help combat cattle rustling in the region.

“We will engage those parishes that share borders with Trans Mara in conflict transformation where members in each parish will act as informers and rapid response teams in cases of cattle rustling and other cross border conflicts,” he said.

 Ngong Diocesan Moderator Fr John Omboga said the church has an obligation to complemente government’s efforts in resolving various forms of conflicts in the society.