By ROSELYNE OBALA

Fresh controversy has emerged in resettlement of families displaced from Cheybuk of Cheptais District in Bungoma as 200 plots were excluded from area map.

Area DC, Omar Salat, said they have noticed the disparity when the list of beneficiaries and the map used to allocate the land did not tally.

“We have now called in new surveyors to give us the right interpretation. They will either confirm or dismiss our fears. In the map, about 200 plots were left out,” explained.

Salat who spoke to The Standard on phone said 1,732 families were resettled in the area and further 352 in Trans Nzoia County while 236 others are yet to be resettled.

“Once new assessment is complete, we will see how to cater for the remaining families,” he said.

?“Only those families confirmed to be genuine evictees would be settled,” he added.

unconfirmed

During a recent meeting, local administrators promised to follow up the matter of unconfirmed evictees.

Emia ward councilor, Benson Chesikake assured displaced families left out in the exercise that their issue would be tackled.

Last September, the Government released Sh180 million to acquire 742 hectares of land in Trans Nzoia County to resettle 352 families.

Salat maintained the Government is committed to bringing to an end land wrangles in the district.

Last October, the late Internal Security Minister, George Saitoti issued allotment letters to 1,732 families in Mt Elgon District, which concluded the third phase of resettlement.

lives lost

Land issues in the region has led to the death of over 600 locals, while those who dared challenge the Sabaot Land Defense Force (SLDF) militia were maimed.

The whereabouts of some victims of the violence are unknown to date.

SLDF was opposed to the Government’s plan in 2005 to resettle only over 1,000 people claiming the landless were about 11,000.

The clashes led to over 40,000 people being displaced and many schools shut down. Many children dropped out of school and joined the militia group. The Government in 2008 launched a joint military operation dubbed ‘Operation Okoa Maisha’ to crush the militia.