[Source: Daily Nation, by Charles Wanyoro]
Close to 100 landowners in Meru County’s Amung’enti ‘D’ adjudication area have petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta for an investigation into wrangles over ownership of the property measuring more than 10,000 acres.
Residents of the Akachiu, Akithigi, Antu Ba Ngoro, Uringu and Anto Ba Ita clans in Igembe South claim influential people invaded the land and sponsored violence.
Led by lawyer Kirimi Mbogo, they say “outsiders” want a share of the fertile land and are behind increased crime.
Mr Mbogo said on Sunday that at least seven people had been killed and dozens of arson attacks carried out in one year, leaving residents in fear.
The landowners claimed the attackers were enjoying police protection.
In an affidavit filed in court last week, Mr Joseph King’ori M’Ikamati, who is accused of killing one George Mithika during clashes in the area, termed Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as a person of interest, and accused him of pulling strings in the matter.
He told Meru Resident Judge Alfred Mabeya that prior to the killing, groups supported by Mr Musyoka met at Nthanjene and Tumu Tumu police posts and took an oath to evict all farmers from the area.
Mr Mbogo also alleged that Mr Musyoka is interested in a 2,000-acre piece of land in the area, but one of the farmers contested this.
The landowners last week petitioned the President for a solution, warning that more killings would take place.
They want the President to order the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Land Commission to investigate the problem and solve it once and for all.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Charles Wanyoro]
