Chiefs summoned over scheme land

By Karanja Njoroge

Nakuru, Kenya: Two chiefs implicated in illegal land allocations at the controversial Chepakundi Settlement Scheme in Kuresoi have been summoned to appear before the Nakuru County Assembly.

The assembly’s Justice and Legal Committee ordered the two chiefs, a retired chief and a primary school head teacher, to appear before it on March 31, to shed light on the controversial land allocations.

The committee issued the summons after the two snubbed an invitation by the assembly to appear before it Monday.

“We had asked them to come before the committee but now that they have ignored our invitation, we have summoned them on March 31,” committee chairman Samuel Waithuki said.

Those who have been summoned are James Kenduiywa, the chief of Saosa Location, and Richard Lang’at, an assistant chief in Emitik Sub-location. Others are Josiah Koech, a local headmaster, and Joel Koech, who is a retired school head.

A letter by the Chepakundi-Olenguruone self-help group delivered to the committee on their behalf stated that they would not appear before the assembly as the National Land Commission was handling the land issue.

The group further said there was a case pending in court on the settlement scheme.

However, the committee said the chiefs risk arrest if they fail to honour the summons by the assembly.

“If they fail to appear, the assembly lawyer will write to the OCS directing that they be arrested. The Constitution is clear that the county assembly can summon anyone,” said Mr Waithuki.

He said that those summoned are expected to shed light on the controversial allocations.

“We want to ensure there is justice for all over the issue,” Waithuki said after the chiefs failed to turn up at the chambers.

The assembly commenced investigations into the land row following a petition by more than 800 families.

The families are claiming ownership of the land after they were evicted from the area during the 1992 ethnic clashes.