Administrators from West Pokot and Trans Nzoia have moved in to resolve a brewing conflict between herders and farmers at the Chepchoina Settlement Scheme, which is at the border of the two counties.
West Pokot county commissioner Abdullahi Khalif and his Trans Nzoia counterpart Gideon Oyagi want the headers to move out so that farmers can start preparations for the planting season.
The land was allocated to residents after the original owners quit their operations, but has been the subject of conflict after some of the settlers were driven away by livestock herders from West Pokot.
The herdsmen graze their livestock at the scheme after every maize harvest.
However, this time round, they have decided to stay put, instead evicting the maize farmers, and leading to clashes that forced the administrator to intervene.
A tractor was vandalised in the ensuing melee.
Speaking at the farm in Trans Nzoia county on Friday, the two administrators expressed their dismay at the turn of events.
“The government is very concerned with farming and food security hence enough security is needed to allow farmers to prepare their farms early. Other years we have not been having this kind of a misunderstanding but this year the herders have overstayed which is worrying the maize farmers,” Oyagi said.
“Let the invaders understand that the uniforms we are wearing are not for choir practices and singing. We shall act professionally.”
He said everyone has the right to own land as long as the due process of the law is followed, warning that the government will take stern action against those causing division among the communities.
“We shall not allow a culture of having intruders every October so that we have such conflicts. Grazing agreements should involve public participation among the residents for mutual benefits to exist,” the commissioner said.
“We have had a joint meeting and agreed that starting tomorrow Saturday everybody goes back to their legitimate farms and no one should block them.”
Khalif said the land is sufficient for the community, hence they must coexist and carry out sustainable farming.
“The government is not going to allow anyone to interfere with farming activities especially at this ploughing and planting season,” he said.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto said the farm in dispute was handed over to the locals in 1994 and 1997 and the legitimate owners are well documented.
“This Chepchoina scheme was meant to resettle the peasants and locals that were working in the farms and they were well documented. In case there are land cartels extorting money from people they will be soon exposed,” the MP said.
Moroto and his Endebess counterpart Robert Pukose asked community members to collaborate
with the government for peaceful
co-existence.
