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Violence-Hit Region Out of Bounds, Says Govt

The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS
October 7, 2004
Posted to the web October 7, 2004

By Julius Bosire
Nairobi
The Government has declared a part of Molo, which has been rocked by land-
related violence, a no-go zone.
At the same time, two prime suspects in the murder of three residents during
the violence have been arrested, an assistant minister of State, Mr Danson
Mungatana, said.
In a ministerial statement to Parliament, he said the Likia area of Mau Narok,
Nakuru District, had been declared out of bounds to contain the violence.
Four other suspects would stand trial for carrying offensive weapons, Mr
Mungatana said.
The ministerial statement was sought by Molo MP Macharia Mukiri (Narc).
Farmers in the area would be advised on how to harvest their crop, the
assistant minister said.
Speaker Francis Kaparo ruled that clarifications over the statement be sought
next week as the matter was sensitive and the House was running out of time for
the next order.
Mr Mungatana said the 45,301-hectare Likia scheme, where the violence broke
out, was meant to settle members of the Ogiek community.
Some residents found the land unoccupied and settled under the shamba system.
Yet another group held title deeds for the plots.
But an inter-ministerial committee had ruled that the area be preserved as a
water catchment area.
The clashes erupted when those with title deeds moved into the land to build
houses, damaging the crops belonging to the residents tilling the land under
the shamba system.
Mr Mungatana blamed the violence on rumours that there were attacks and
counter-attacks, which caused fear and suspicion between the groups.

   

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