Residents rebel against Meru's grand plans for Isiolo city and game park

Former Economic Secretary at the Treasury Peter Gakunu (back to camera) consults with a National Land Commision (NLC) official (centre) and a resident at a meeting held at Kimiru village on the outskirts on Isiolo town on Saturday, May 2, 2015 to deliberate on plans to create an Isiolo city annex in the area. [Photo: WAINAINA NDUNG'U/Standard]

Over 18,000 residents have vowed to stop plans to create an Isiolo City Annex and a 640-square kilometre wildlife conservancy.

The residents claimed there are plans to legitimise questionable allocation of plots in Rwanda and Mumui locations in Tigania West constituency) and Buuri, Ngaremara and Kambella locations in Tigania East.

The prime land in the immediate vicinity of Isiolo International Airport (under construction) is in a controversial scheme mooted in the 1990s by the defunct Nyambene County Council to create a township called Nturingwi B market.

In a charged meeting on Saturday evening, the residents claimed the county government of Meru appeared keen to revive the proposal and had supported allocation of plots in a 1,300 acre portion to 2,900 individuals under mysterious circumstances.

"We do not understand why anybody would seek to superimpose allocations on land already owned by other residents," said area resident and lawyer Kaume Mukira.

"An earlier court ruling that restored the land to the residents had noted that the Nyambene County Council was just a trustee, a mere watchman, on behalf of the people," he added.

Mr Mukira said the residents will be pushing for allocations of plots to themselves before the county government of Meru could buy the land at Sh1.6 million per acre to roll out its planned city.

He said the county government had no powers to claim the land without compensation. The residents have since lodged an appeal with the National Land Commission (NLC) to enable them take full advantage of the proposed Isiolo Resort City.

The meeting was attended by MPs Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East) and David Kariithi (Tigania West, pictured) who took a swipe at public officials for failing to protect the interest of residents.

"We are tired of people sitting in public offices to conspire to rob the people," said Mr Kariithi.

City consultant Mwenda Thiribi who is among the residents claiming ownership of the land said the residents are also laying claim to the land North of Garbatulla Road and South of Ewaso Nyiro River measuring 640kms.

This is the parcel of land, which the Meru County government proposes to convert into a wildlife conservancy.

But Mr Thiribu said it was a community grazing land and they had asked NLC to convert it into a five-acre settlement scheme to be balloted by all families in the former Nyambene district and distributed by age groups.

The county Communications Head Thuranira Thiaine said the conservancy was gazetted long before the county government came into being and local residents fully supported the idea of creating a buffer zone in the rustling prone area.

"Securing the area would make it safe for all residents and it is really sad that the idea is being opposed by large farm owners together with other vested interests," he said.

Governor Peter Munya and his Lands Executive Martin Bikuri were unavailable to comment on the developments near Isiolo.

"I implore you to hold unto the land once you get the documents because with the development of the Isiolo resort city, the railway and the pipeline link from the Lamu port, land here will shoot to over Sh10 million an acre," said Mr Thiribi.

Mr Aburi accused the Meru government of driving cosmetic development in the area.

"They have paved a few roads in Nkubu, Mutindwa and Makutano to hoodwink visitors when the ordinary mwananchi has nothing," claimed the ODM MP.