South Rift MPs now threaten court action over Mau eviction

By Edwin Makiche and Leonard Korir

A section of MPs from South Rift have threatened to move to court over Mau evictees.

Led by Energy Assistant minister Magerer Langat, the legislators said the Government was taking too long to purchase land for evictees yet the money was disbursed to the Ministry of Lands.

Magerer blamed Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office for dragging its feet in implementing the report of Mau Taskforce hence his decision to bolt out of the ad hoc committee alongside Sotik MP Joyce Laboso and Home Affairs Assistant minister Beatrice Kones.

“We cannot take ages discussing over purchasing of land for evictees yet nothing is forthcoming. We cannot pretend to be loyal when fundamental rights of our people are being taken for granted. It is time we speak for the voiceless,” said Magerer.

Speaking at St Catherine’s Catholic Church in Bomet East Constituency, Magerer dismissed earlier reports he alongside other MPs allied to the PM would defect to other parties. They said they were not plotting defections and reiterated they are there to stay in ODM.

They said issues of resettlement should be separated from politics.

“We want all our people who have been displaced including the Talai community to be resettled before the next General Election. This is not a request but a constitutional right of all Kenyans,” Magerer said.

Speaking at the same function, Kones said they would fight for the rights of the people within the party and challenged all leaders from the region to put aside their political differences and unite for the welfare of the community. Laboso said the country cannot go to the polls when there were thousands of IDPs, including Mau evictees in camps.

Other leaders, who attended the function included Kanu secretary general Nick Salat, former East Africa Cooperation minister John Koech.