Gideon urges Mau evictees not to give up land titles

By Titus Too

Settlers evicted out of Mau Forest should not hand over their title deeds unless the due process is followed, Kanu national vice-chairman Gideon Moi has said.

Gideon said yesterday it was not only the issue of resettlement or compensation for the affected, but also the sanctity of title deeds that should be respected.

"It is unfortunate that legal titles can be referred to as mere papers. The law is clear and legal processes of the law should be followed," he said.

Gideon, who was accompanied by Kanu leaders including secretary-general Nick Salat, Jonathan Bii, Paul Kibet and Shadrack Kiptugen, spoke during a peace rally at Kapkures Primary School in Eldoret North.

Kanu vice-chairman Gideon Moi (right), secretary-general Nick Salat (third left) and other officials at a peace rally at Kapkures Primary School in Eldoret North, Wednesday. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD]

He said some leaders from the Rift Valley were now vocal over the suffering of Mau evictees yet they passed the Cabinet resolution in Parliament.

"The leaders, if they are sincere, should have stopped the resolution by opposing it in Parliament. They are now just opposing their supervisor," said Gideon.

He said issues touching on land should be dealt with soberly.

"We had displacements in 2003 and the same is happening now. Care should be taken to stop the same happening in 2012.

Alliance dismissed

Gideon also said former President Moi should not be seen as a sole owner of Kiptagich tea estates and factory. "We should not only see Moi when it comes to Kiptagich. Only 25 per cent of tea processed at the factory belongs to Moi while 75 per cent belongs to outgrowers," he said.

The former Baringo Central MP said the factory generates Sh500 million annually. He added: "If they say tea was not environment friendly, uniform action should be taken in Kiptagich, Brook Bond (Unilever) and James Finlay."

At the same time Gideon dismissed the formation of a political alliance between the Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kamba (KKK), saying formation of tribal alliances "were shallow and a mentality of the 1960s".

He said Kanu had a national outlook and that its leadership wanted a united Kenya. "As leaders, we should gauge ourselves after every year. Kanu is going to the polls next year and we will make it a vehicle that will give Kenyans employment, peace, health and development," said Mr Salat.

He said some senior Government officials currently forming alliances were talking of a revolution instead of focusing on the welfare of Kenyans.

He dismissed the KKK terming it "Kumaliza Kenya Kabisa" (to finish Kenya totally). He said leaders of the alliance defected from Kanu before falling out with National Rainbow Coalition and were now converging to form the alliance.

 

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