[Source: The Standard, by Renson Mnyamwezi]
The managers of a ranch have been ordered to evict more than 200 youths who have invaded a disputed gemstone mining site.
County Police Commander Said Mohammed yesterday gave nine directors of Kasigau Ranching Company Ltd one week to kick out the invaders or face prosecution.
Last week, the youths who were armed with weapons and mining tools took over the mine situated in the vast ranch and displaced an investor who has been on the site since 2011.
The invaders were allegedly ferried to the mine by a few ranch managers and officials of a local NGO.
Sources said the directors and investor were interrogated on Sunday by the county security committee.
“We were released at 8pm after several hours of questioning by the police,” one of the directors confirmed.
Before the invasion, the NGO workers allegedly held meetings in Bungule, Jora and Rukanga villages where they urged residents to take over the gemstone mine.
Sunday’s grilling and censuring came after the youths defied orders by Voi Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Lewa and Nyangala assistant County Commissioner Agnes Wangari to leave the land.
[Full article: The Standard, by Renson Mnyamwezi]
