Samburu residents remove beacons on ranch over alleged grabbing
What you need to know:
- Mr Lesarge said the erection of beacons was blatant disregard of the law and contempt of court.
- The court previously issued orders that the status quo be maintained
Residents of Samburu have protested over the encroachment into expansive community land used for grazing purposes during dry seasons.
During demonstrations, they destroyed beacons erected by the alleged grabbers on the land which borders Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
The irate residents claimed that a group of people who held powerful government positions in 1980s and 1990s were behind the scheme to hive off part of the expansive community land belonging to Losesia Group Ranch.
The ranch occupies 113, 653 hectares and has 940 registered members.
Samburu residents at Losesia Group Ranch land on July 23, 2020. The community land is used for grazing purposes during dry seasons. PHOTO | WAWERU WAIRIMU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
GRAZING RESERVE
It lies within the community’s dry season grazing reserve which is habitually left fallow during rainy seasons and is part of the Waso East adjudication section with 41 parcels of land including 37 individual parcels and three trading centres.
In 2015, the Losesia community sued 37 individuals allegedly involved in the grabbing, both locals and non-locals, for reportedly using their positions and influence to fraudulently acquire 40,925 hectares of the land and applied to have the parcels revoked. The matter is pending in court.
The group allegedly duped elders into allowing them to hive off part of the land by convincing them that beneficiaries would fence off the parcels and block off cattle rustlers which would help end perennial resource-based conflicts with the neighbouring Borana and Somali communities.
Led by the Losesia Group Ranch committee Chairman Tom Lesarge, the members said they will do everything possible to protect the land from grabbers in efforts to ensure sustainable economic development for residents.
A section of the Losesia Group Ranch land where alleged grabbers had erected beacons. The ranch in Samburu lies on the border with Isiolo and Marsabit counties. PHOTO | WAWERU WAIRIMU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
RESPECT COURT ORDER
With the court previously issuing orders that the status quo be maintained, Mr Lesarge said the erection of beacons was blatant disregard of the law and contempt of court.
“We will not sit and watch as a few people grab land that our predominantly pastoralist community relies on during dry seasons as this threatens their livelihoods and source of income. The existing court order must be respected and adhered to,” said Mr Lesarge.
The residents, after destroying two beacons, warned the public against being duped into buying parcels of land within the ranch from the alleged grabbers.
Mr Sokuine Lemuruni, 70, said the council of elders will pronounce a curse on the grabbers for causing suffering on locals who solely rely on pastoralism. He asked the government to move with speed and help secure the ranch.
“The relevant authorities should move with speed and secure the ranch from the grabbers else we will starve to death because we solely rely on it to feed our animals,” said Mr Lemuruni.
Mr Lonte Lemaramba, member of the ranch committee, said the land could only be divided in the event that members resolve to do so and that they will continue protecting the valuable asset from encroachment.
“We are wondering who gave whoever erected the beacon the mandate whereas there is a pending matter in court,” said Mr Lemaramba.
