Delta ranchers deny eviction claims

By Peter Orengo

Ranchers in the Tana Delta district who went into a lease agreement with a developer to plant jatropha trees have refuted claims that they are evicting squatters to give way for the shrub.

The Garsen Ranchers Conservation Management Forum and the Tana Delta County Council say the six ranches in question have been used for grazing animals for generations.

Conservationists, led by Nature Kenya and East African Wildlife Society, hold the position that the biofuel project by a Canadian company, Bedford Biofuel, will lead to long-term environmental destruction since it interferes with biodiversity.

The locals led by their leaders have expressed support for the project that has so far been allowed to grow the crop on 10,000 hectares of land, saying it will bring employment and development to the area.

"We have no plans to evict anybody since the areas are not inhabited. Furthermore, we are the owners of the said land and there is no way we can evict our own," said Councillor Salim Golo, the Tana River County Council chairman.

He said the county and the locals stand to benefit a lot from the project since Bedford Biofuels have promised to employ over 14,000 workers. So far, more than 200 young men and women are engaged by the company to prepare land and the nursery bed.

The President of Bedford Biofuel who travelled from Canada to attend the news conference, said the company had taken cognizance of all environmental concerns and is ready to talk with all stakeholders to ensure the project goes on.

Several thousands of hectares at the delta are already earmarked for the growing of jatropha, a fuel substitute. Magarini MP Amason Kingi and Garsen MP Danson Mungatana have openly supported the project, saying it will create jobs.