Angata Barikoi residents demonstrate over land grabbing claims

BY ALBERT TONUI

Angata Barikoi residents of Transmara South took to the streets following a land tussle between them and another group claiming to be owners of one land in question.

 

Both parties are claiming ownership of the said land approximated to be about 6,300 acres.

 

Over 3000 Angata Barikoi residents do cultivate the land.

 

According to the residents(from the Kipsigis community) they acquired the land from their great grandparents and that they have full proof of ownership including title deeds.

 

They swore never to relent, including fighting legally to prove their rightful ownership of the fertile land situated in Kairoro area along Kenya-Tanzania border and bordering Kuria East of Migori county.

 

The residents bitterly narrated how the Kilgoris land survey officers in the company of heavy security officers last week entered in that track of land and began fresh land demarcation yet they already have land title deeds.

They claim the land has been their bread baskets for over five decades and that they can’t let it go requesting the president of the republic to intervene and safe their situation.

They claim the rival group(from the Maasai community) eying their land has an upper hand from the office of the of the deputy county commissioner in Lolgorian and lands office in Kilgoris.

”This land belongs to us. We have valid title deeds which some of us have used to borrow bank loans. All of us were born here and our fore fathers gave us this land.

We are shocked that there are people who want to take away our heritage which has fed us for over five decades.

The land surveyors accompanied by heavy security officers who came to do land demarcation last week is a clear indication that our rivals have compromised the land’s office to grab our land.

We request our president Dr. William Ruto to intervene and let us own this land without any further disturbance from any quarter.” the residents led by area Member of County Assembly Joseph Koech Tegeltich and activist Bismarck Cheruiyot said.