Kalonzo told to keep off Mwea land matters

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been told to keep off land matters in Mbeere South.

On Thursday, Kalonzo visited Makima ward, where seven people were shot by police, one fatally, during a fracas that arose after subdivision and issuance of title deeds to the 17,000-hectare Mwea settlement scheme.

During the visit, the Wiper Party leader promised to pursue compensation for the victims.

He also called for a commission of inquiry to help find out the real owners of the contested land and ensure it was allocated fairly to deserving people.

However, Mbeere South MP Geoffrey King’ang’i hit out at Kalonzo, saying his mission did not offer any solution to the land dispute but instead risked dividing residents of the cosmopolitan area further.

Mr King’ang’i said the Interior ministry had already stopped the resettlement of beneficiaries on the land and that Kalonzo should have liaised with the Government first.

No chaos

“No chaos has arisen since Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i halted the resettlement. What then was Musyoka’s point when he did not consult (Dr) Matiang’i or the President?” he said.

During the visit, Kalonzo was accompanied by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, Masinga MP Joshua Mwalio, Makima ward rep Philip Nzangi, his Mwea counterpart Harrison Mwaluko and Mwea council of elders’ vice-chairman Sila Mwaniki.

The leaders attended the memorial of Kennedy Muvevi, a masonry student at Makima Youth Polytechnic, who was shot dead last year after residents clashed with police escorting beneficiaries to their allocated land.

Kalonzo said he would pursue the matter with the Attorney General.

“My prayer is that no any other person will lose their life in such circumstances,” he said.