MPs row over land allocation in county

By OSINDE OBARE

There was heated debate when MPs from Trans-Nzoia and West Pokot counties differed over land distribution at Chepchoina settlement scheme in Trans-Nzoia County.

Kwanza MP Mr Ferdinand Wanyonyi ignited the debate when he claimed outsiders are beneficiaries of the land allocation in the county.

He accused the past regime of favouring certain communities in the resettlement programme and discriminating the natives.

“Outsiders were given land in Trans-Nzoia County while natives were ignored and this is the bone of contention among the communities living in the county,” he told a parliamentary committee on lands sitting in Kitale.

The Trans-Nzoia MPs complained that distribution of land in phases one and two had favoured members of the Pokot community at the expense of their Luhya counterparts.

But Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto defended the allocations and dismissed Wanyonyi’s claims maintaining that the land allocation was legitimate. “Those resettled at Chepchoina are Kenyans and not outsiders as claimed by my colleague and if that is the way to go we are not going to agree,” Moroto responded.

Endebess MP Dr Robert Pokuse joined the fray and warned the MPs against pointing accusing fingers at each other over land distribution.