Talek residents protest market land grabbing

Residents of Talek in Narok South sub-county protesting over alleged grabbing of market by local land cartel on July 6,2015. [PHOTO/ROBERT KIPLAGAT/STANDARD]

Over 200 residents of Talek trading centre in Narok South sub-county held peaceful demonstrations to protest the alleged grabbing of a market plot by a local land cartel.

The enraged locals descended on the plot that had already been sub-divided into 13 plots ready for sale.

The protestors went ahead to demarcate the land into 153 plots and allocated themselves, saying the land had been ear-marked for public utility.

"We woke up in the morning to find the market place where our women have been selling cloths, fruits, vegetables and other wares had been sub-divided by known grabbers. We decided to demarcate the land and allocate it to legitimate locals," said Dominic Rakwa, a youth leader.

He said due to fear of public outrage, the well-connected land cartels divided the land at night, saying the prime grounds was set aside by the defunct Narok County Council for business and livestock market.

Mr Rakwa said the grabbers seem to be working in cahoots with powerful county people.

He alleged that the plots had been 'sold' at around Sh150,000 to unsuspecting investors.

Ng'aur ole Tomboi, a village elder, said the market was set aside alongside other public utilities in the area such as health centre, trading centre and schools in 1991 under Talek Block Five.

He said the elders gave up their lands for establishment of the public utilities for future generations and it was a pity that runaway grabbers wanted to deprive generations of their treasure.

The locals appealed to both county and national governments to protect public utilities across the county.

The protest comes at a time when Governor Samuel Tunai and County Commissioner Arthur Osiya have vowed to repossess all grabbed land meant for public utilities in the county.

The governor decried the rampant grabbing of public utilities by private developers thus derailing the county and national government from initiating development projects.

"As a county, we are issuing a stern warning to those who have grabbed land meant for the public. We will do all we can to ensure such land goes back to the public to serve the intended purpose," said Mr Tunai.

He said his administration was committed to protecting all public property and told grabbers to stay off.