Government set to hold security meeting to resolve Chepchoina clashes

Some evicted families camping at Katikomor trading centre, West Pokot after being evicted from their homes in Chepchoina settlement scheme, neighbouring Trans Nzoia County. [Photo: Irissheel Shanzu]

Over 700 families who were displaced from Chepchoina settlement scheme in Trans Nzoia County have been urged to remain calm as government works to resolves the long-standing dispute which has dogged the expansive farm for years.

Security agencies from West Pokot led by county commissioner Apollo Okello visited the families who are living at Katikimor the border of Trans Nzoia and West Pokot after their houses were demolished and kicked out of the farm.

Okello assured the evicted families that on Monday next week the Regional commissioner George Natembeya will visit the area for a security meeting and determine the fate of the affected families.

“I am pleading with you to exercise patience and refrain from incitement, the government is handling the matter since we have heard your grievances,” he said.

He noted that Chepchoina settlement scheme is in Trans Nzoia County and will work together with Trans Nzoia security team to look for a solution.

He advised the displaced families to submit allotment letters to his officer for scrutiny and verification ahead of the security meeting.

“I urge you to maintain peace and avoid unnecessary retaliation attacks. Enough police officers have been deployed to maintain law and order,” he said.

West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo said that local leaders were not happy watching children and women suffer in the cold after their houses were destroyed.

“The evictions were done in the most inhumane way, we understand the pain and a solution should be found within the shortest time possible. There are some suspects who are land brokers and are the source of all these problems,” he said.

Some evicted families camping at Katikomor trading centre, West Pokot after being evicted from their homes in Chepchoina settlement scheme, neighbouring Trans Nzoia county. [Photo: Irissheel Shanzu]

He called on security agencies to arrest individuals behind the attacks noting that the scheme has been dogged in controversy for the last 20 years.

“Stop taking the law into your hands, both county governments are working together to end the wrangles, we should avoid tribalism since everyone in Kenya is entitled to settle anywhere,” he noted.

The displaced locals lamented that the government resorted to evicting from the farm ignoring the fact that many of the families have lived on the farm for many years.

Ann Endou, one of the locals displaced from the farm, said they have been forced to live in the bushes and caves as they have nowhere to call home.

“We have official letters we were given to own the land as squatters, some of the women have given birth in the bushes we are really suffering after we were evicted from our homes,” she said.

She claimed that some families have been forced to migrate to Uganda after their homes were destroyed.

She added that their houses were destroyed and they could not be able to salvage anything for their upkeep while some are camping at Katikomor trading centre without blankets and mosquito nets.

James Sifuna said they were camping at Katikomor primary school but there were forced to move from the school after they were ordered to leave the school.

“We were given this land in 1994 some were given allotment letters by Agriculture Development Corporation (ADC), the land has been having complicated issues year in year out some have bought land from land grabbers and those who genuinely own the land have been evicted by force. We are pleading with president Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene,” he said.

Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto was on Sunday arrested after visiting families evicted from the settlement scheme and on Monday he appeared at Kitale court charged with destruction of property belonging to ADC Suam orchard worth Sh7 million in 2017.

Moroto denied the charges and is out on bond pending the hearing of the criminal case.