South Ngariama land issues haunt Karua ahead of August elections

The emotive issue of land will, without a doubt, play a significant part in how votes will be cast in the Kirinyaga governorship race on August 8, 2017. For over a decade, residents in parts of Kirinyaga including South Ngariama in Mwea Constituency have had to endure desolation owing to their living state as squatters and the simmering aggravation is observably blowing up. The locals have accused some of the area leaders of having a hand in the irregular subdivision and allocation of the land, previously held under Trust by the defunct County Council of Kirinyaga. Some of local leaders were allegedly allocated more than 50 acres each leaving hundreds of locals landless in blatant cases of corruption and favouritism. At the heart of this issue is Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, who is now running for the Kirinyaga governorship seat. Ms Karua is accused of using her influence as Gichugu MP and Justice Minister in Mwai Kibaki’s administration to apportion her family huge chunks of land, while also ‘gifting’ her political allies and close confidants with the same. The former Gichugu MP’s father was reportedly allocated 10 acres while her brother, a former Principle of Mutige Secondary School got 12 acres which he has since sold for millions of shillings. Karua’s sister was reportedly allocated three acres (parcel No 4193) which she later sold to one Mr Wachira. The company that was single-sourced to handle the demarcation of the land is allegedly owned by Karua’s running mate Joseph Gitari – the outgoing MP for Kirinyaga Central. However, speaking before the House Committee on Land and Natural Resources in 2010, Karua rubbished concerns by locals that the process of land allocation was marred by favouritism, insisting that the process was above par. “The subdivision was done by clan elders and took in the landless from Gichugu, Ndia, Kirinyaga Central and Mwea Constituencies, The process was transparent and fair,” she said. The locals are now demanding action on anyone who was irregularly allocated land in the area and fresh audit of the process. And to ensure an end to the decade-long standoff, Jubilee candidate for the Kirinyaga governorship seat Anne Waiguru has promised to intervene and ensure justice is served, should she take office. In her rallies last week, Waiguru reiterated her earlier stand that she would review the processes undertaken and ensure reallocation is done. Ms Waiguru has also promised to issue 6,000 title deeds to squatters living in South Ngariama and resolve the longstanding dispute once and for all. The land issue, coupled by reports that she received Ksh7.5 million from the British America Tobacco (BAT) in the run-up to the 2013 elections to help protect the firm’s commercial interests, has left Karua’s campaign in turmoil. While Karua has dismissed the figures as incorrect, she has admitted to having received some money from one Paul Hopkins, affiliated to BAT, as a personal donation to the campaign. And as the elections draw closer, there seems to be a major shift on the ground with many local leaders including those in Karua’s Gichugu backyard and her running mate Gitari’s Kirinyaga Central, announcing their support for her competitor Anne Waiguru. Among those who have backed Waiguru’s bid include former Gichugu MP Bernard Kathanga and incumbent governor Joseph Ndathi’s former running mate Reuben Ndegwa. Additionally, other Jubilee candidates in the county have also vowed to drum up support for Waiguru to ensure she clinches the Kirinyaga Governor’s seat. Reports further indicate that Mr Ndathi, who is running for the seat as an independent candidate after losing to Waiguru in the Jubilee nominations, may be contemplating dropping out of the race in favour of Ms Waiguru.

South Ngariama land issues haunt Karua ahead of August elections

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

South Ngariama land issues haunt Karua ahead of August elections

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.