South Rift Governors now demand to manage security, land and forests

Two South Rift county bosses want governors to be included in the security matters of their respective counties.

Speaking yesterday during the launch of the Kericho County Investment Conference (Kecico), Council of Governors' Chairman Isaac Ruto and Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony said by involving them in security matters, the country would experience the much needed peace and tranquility.

"If counties participate in security matters, the security problems being experienced in Mombasa, Pokot, Baringo among other areas would possibly not happen. We would like the citizens to participate and be empowered on security," said Mr Roto.

He added that the Pesa Mashinani campaign being fronted by governors is not only about seeking more money for the counties but also demanding the management of forests and other natural resources to be handled by the counties.

"Counties should participate in the management of their own forests. People cannot just harvest our trees as they wish and take the timber to unknown locations. We participated in the planting of the trees and we can do value addition on timber," he said.

But speaking separately, the Timber Manufacturers Association (TMA) Chairman Bernard Gitau opposed Ruto's demands for the devolution of forests. He warned that if devolved, it would lead to wanton destruction of the forests.

"The management of forests must remain in the hands of the national government since if forests are devolved, it would also lead to wanton destruction and counties would also begin demanding the devolution of lakes and rivers, since their origins are in the forests," he said.

Ruto also argued that the land management needs to be devolved. He pointed out that the leases held by multinational tea companies are about to expire and the land must revert to members of the local Kipsigis and Talai communities.

"People sitting in Nairobi who claim that they know how to manage land are lying. The land is ours and we can still decide to lease it to multinational companies but through public participation," he said.

Prof Chepkwony declared that he would stand firm against influential politicians eying pieces of the tea companies' land upon expiry of the leases.

"There are some politicians salivating after the pieces of land and would sell it off in a heartbeat but as a governor, I would not sell the birthright of local residents no matter what," he said.

The governor said when the leases expire, ownership must revert to the local Talai and Kipsigis communities.