Taita-Taveta police order ranch managers to evict youth

The managers of a ranch have been ordered to evict more than 200 youths who have invaded a disputed gemstone mining site.

County Police Commander Said Mohammed yesterday gave nine directors of Kasigau Ranching Company Ltd one week to kick out the invaders or face prosecution.

“We are aware that some directors are behind the invasion of the gemstone site whose case is still pending in court. We will not tolerate lawlessness and impunity. You either evict the invaders or else we will come for you,” said Mr Mohammed.

Last week, the youths who were armed with weapons and mining tools took over the mine situated in the vast ranch and displaced an investor who has been on the site since 2011.

Local NGO

The invaders were allegedly ferried to the mine by a few ranch managers and officials of a local NGO.

Sources said the directors and investor were interrogated on Sunday by the county security committee.

“We were released at 8pm after several hours of questioning by the police,” one of the directors confirmed.

Before the invasion, the NGO workers allegedly held meetings in Bungule, Jora and Rukanga villages where they urged residents to take over the gemstone mine.

Sunday’s grilling and censuring came after the youths defied orders by Voi Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Lewa and Nyangala assistant County Commissioner Agnes Wangari to leave the land.

“This is our ancestral land and we will not vacate it. We have been deprived of our land and mining rights for years. We have taken over what is rightfully ours to eke out a living,” one of the youths said