Religious leaders ask State to resolve Narok land disputes

KNA

Religious leaders have called on the National government to resolve land-related disputes in Narok before the next General-Election to avert violence.

Led by Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Dr Jackson ole Sapit, they said land has been identified as the key cause of recurring skirmishes in part of the county warning that if nothing was done, it would lead to more bloodshed.

Some of the existing land disputes include lack of legal land ownership documents, incidents of double title deeds for the same piece of land and boundary disputes between the group ranches.

Among the areas that have experienced land related skirmishes this year, include Nkararo area in Trans Mara West Sub County, Olposimoru area that borders Maasai Mau forest in Narok North sub-County and Olorwaasi area in Narok South sub- County. 

The clashes that involved the Kipsigis and Maasai communities left 12 people dead, dozens nursing injuries while tens of houses were burnt down in different scenarios this year.

Entry point

“Most politicians use land as an entry point for agitation to deceive the people and in turn cause chaos.

That is why we are urging the government to resolve all existing land disputes to avoid what we witnessed early this year,” said Bishop Sapit.

The leaders were speaking during a one-day leaders meeting organised by National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) held in a Narok hotel that brought together religious leaders, local administrators and village elders.

The archbishop lauded the government for restoring the Maasai Mau forest and called on residents to keep off from the forest, as it is a major water tower in the continent.