By Roselyne Obala

Bungoma County

Dreams of a home for about 235 families displaced in Mt Elgon District, Bungoma County have become a reality.

Area District Commissioner Omar Salat yesterday said the affected families would be resettled in Trans Nzoia County.

“The Government has purchased 742 acres of land worth Sh180 million to be allocated to those who missed out in the initial exercise in Chebyuk settlement scheme in Mt Elgon region,” he said.

Mr Salat said of the 352 families left out, 117 were also settled in the district. “We will resettle the remaining 235 families in neighbouring Trans Nzoia West District since all preparations have been finalised,” he said.

He added: “The beneficiaries will each get two and half acres of land. The surveyors are expected on the ground soon.”

He said they are optimistic the exercise would be completed in a week. “We hope the surveyors will be facilitated on time to enable the exercise begin today and probably be through in seven days,” he said.

After a meeting which brought together County Commissioners of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, area DCs, security officers and local leaders, Salat said they resolved that the families be ferried to their new homes.

“We have organised transport for the families and they will be transported in trips of 50 each,” he stated.

The DC said they also discussed security of the beneficiaries once they are settled. They will be required to form committees to integrate well with the neighbours and solve issues that may arise,” he said.

Land wrangles

Salat said social amenities like schools, hospitals and a police post would be put up.

The beneficiaries were displaced after clashes at the controversial Cheybuk settlement scheme, which began in 2005. Salat told The Standard that initially 352 families were to be settled in Trans Nzoia County, while 236 others are yet to be resettled.

He reiterated Government’s commitment to ending land wrangles in the district. In October 2011, the late Internal Security Minister George Saitoti issued allotment letters to 1,732 families in Mt Elgon District, in the third phase of resettlement.