Leaders Urge President to Expedite Issuance of Mochongoi and Mau Title Deeds
By Tom Chepsoi,
Leaders in the Rift Valley are now urging the government to accelerate the process of fully degazetting the Mau and Mochongoi forests. Their aim is to ensure that over 70,000 people, who were settled in these areas by the government, can obtain land title deeds to legitimise their ownership.
Since 1989, when the Mochongoi settlement scheme was established by the government to resettle individuals displaced by government projects in Baringo County, residents have been living in uncertainty.
This is due to incomplete degazettement procedures and land allocation processes, leading to informal settlements and unresolved land ownership issues.
Leaders who toured the area, led by Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma, Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap, Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie, and host Charles Kamuren, stated that it is time for the government to expedite the land acquisition process.
They highlighted that residents have lacked legitimate land ownership for over 35 years. The leaders further called for a similar process in the expansive Mau Forest to be expedited, aiming to end years of land disputes that emerge with every new government administration.
For years, the Mau and Mochongoi forests have been exploited for political gain and have been central to conflicts with environmental activists advocating for the protection of Kenya’s water towers.
In previous regimes, people were forcefully evicted from Mau due to a lack of legitimate ownership. To prevent a recurrence of such events, leaders are now racing against time to ensure residents in these regions can acquire land title deeds.
The leaders also used the opportunity to rally support for President Ruto’s second term. This comes amidst calls from the government opposition for a one-term presidency.
According to the leaders, President Ruto’s track record is evident, citing affordable housing, the Social Health Insurance Fund, and a stable economy.
In expressing their support, the leaders urged the President not to let Raila Odinga “off the hook,” implying that Odinga is a formidable collaborator to ensure Ruto’s re-election.
