Fake map used in Chepyuk resettlement scheme
The Chepyuk settlement scheme in Mt.Elgon that faces fresh controversy.PHOTOS BY JOHN NALIANYA
A fresh row has rocked the controversial Chepyuk settlement scheme with revelations that a wrong map was used in the resettlement. The settlement has been the centre of violence for many years. Councilor Benson Chesikaki said the Solomon Ouko led task force had used a fake map to award 1,732 families land. The team apparently hid the knowledge of 200 two-and-half acre plots. “It is outrageous that a task force given the mandate to subdivide this land and bring an end to the years of war have done the contrary by bringing more confusion,” he said.
He accused the task force of lying to the government that the Chepyuk land was not enough, forcing the government to buy more land for some 352 families in Trans-Nzoia to give the land to some politicians. Chesikaki said some members and surveyors had allocated themselves land in Sarian, Kapterwa and Sosablen. He called on the anti-graft body to step in and investigate the syndicate.
Chesikaki warned that if the issue is not handled properly fresh violence might erupt as witnessed during the reign of the Sabaot Land Defense Force that saw the death of more than 600 people and displacement of 10,000. Cheptais DC Omar Salat confirmed that another map different from the one used to resettle the families had been discovered .
He however declined to comment on who is currently occupying the piece of land omitted in the initial map. “The government is committed in carrying out afresh assessment. We shall resettle more people on the 200 plots once complete,” he said. Task force chairman, Solomon Ouko, denied the allegationsand asked residents to wait for the new assessment
He said the exclusion of the 200 plots could have been anomaly not detected by the task force but promised that they are already working on it. Salat called for calm as the government has already stepped in to handle the issue. The Star however established that the land is already occupied. The occupants refused to diverge information on how they acquired the land.