Matiang’i forms team to end Mau feud
An aerial view of Nessuit in Eastern Mau, Nakuru County which was the epicentre of tribal clashes in 2018.
What you need to know:
- He said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that the team complete its mandate by December 12.
- Dr Matiang'i said he will, together with his colleagues, be making impromptu visits to assess the progress.
- Dozens of people have been killed and others maimed due to the protracted land dispute.
The burden of resolving a 20-year land conflict in Eastern Mau pitting three communities now lies in the hands of a special multi-agency task force.
Announcing the new measures aimed at ending the perennial bloody conflicts after a three-hour-long meeting in a Naivasha hotel on Monday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the team has 11 weeks to complete its work.
He said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that the team complete its mandate by December 12.
“The team will be headed by a special DC, who will be accompanied by a small special security team, inter-ministerial officials, working closely with the county commissioner and regional commissioner,” the CS said.
Dr Matiang’i, who was accompanied by fellow Cabinet secretaries Farida Karoney (Lands), Charles Keter (Energy) and Keriako Tobiko (Environment) admitted that some of the matters will take time to be resolved.
Impromptu visits
He said the team will camp in the affected areas, and he will, together with his colleagues, be making impromptu visits to assess the progress.
“We have agreed to accommodate everyone while addressing special requirements that came as a result of a court order from the East African Court of Justice,” Dr Matiang’i said.
“We will set aside properties for the Ogiek as ordered by the court, as well as working on resettling the other communities,” he added.
On May 26, 2017, the court noted that the Kenyan government had violated seven separate articles of the African Charter, including the right to property.
Ogiek case
The case was filed in 2006 before the Arusha-based court where the Ogieks complained that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officials issued them with notices to vacate the forest without considering how this would affect their lives and the continued harassment and destruction of their property.
Court documents show that KFS officers then invaded the forest, destroyed properties and beat up those who resisted eviction.
Dr Matiang’i underscored the importance of peaceful coexistence, hailing church leaders for their role in ensuring peace prevails.
Since July, when the government commenced plans to evict illegal settlers, flare-ups have rocked the region.
Dozens of people have been killed and others maimed due to the protracted land dispute.
