Despite denial by the Government that it was unaware of the Narasha land eviction, it is now emerging senior Government officers had been informed of the exercise.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto
According to an officer in Nakuru who declined to be named, senior Government officers in the Ministry of Internal Security were aware of the order. The source said plans to evict the families started after a meeting between members of the Maasai community and Government officers failed to get a solution.
“There was a meeting held in one of the hotels, where those residing on the land were offered some ‘compensation’ to get out, but they refused, terming it too little,” the source added.
President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto have condemned the manner in which the evictions were carried out and disassociated themselves from the exercise. “Government officers should be in the forefront in upholding the law and we must exercise restraint and a show of humanity while enforcing some orders,” the President said during a public rally atNarasha Primary School grounds.
Junior officers involved in the exercise are protesting moves to discipline them yet they were acting on orders from their bosses.
“We were only obeying orders from our seniors but they now want to make us the sacrificial lambs,” one of the officers said.
This comes as contents of the eviction order were made public indicating that police had been directed to offer security services. A copy of the order dated July 3 seen by The Standard on Sunday, directed the County Commissioner to provide security during the eviction.
The order issued by J Mwaniki, the deputy registrar at the Nakuru law courts, was directed towards 205 families living on land No. Narok/Maella estate 8398/2.
“The honorable court is pleased to issue an order directing the DC or County Commissioner and officer in charge of police division Nakuru County and Narok police station to provide security during the eviction,” reads the order in part.
In the case pitting Ng’ati Farmer’s Co-operative Society and seven members of the Maasai community living on the land, the court warned that that disobeying the order would be cited for contempt. The order further directed Tango auctioneers to evict all those on the land.
Speaking during the eviction on Friday, the auctioneer John Muthee confirmed hiring the more than 100 youth to carry out the exercise.
“I’m a registered auctioneer and I have an order to evict all persons on this land illegally and that shall be done,” he said.
It has also emerged that the provincial administration in Nakuru was divided, with certain officials opposed to the planned eviction. The group supporting the exercise, however, prevailed, paving the way for the hired youths to descend on the village in the company of armed Police officers. When contacted by The Standard on Sunday over who in the provincial administration authorised the evictions, Nakuru County Commissioner Amos Gathecha declined to comment.
Meanwhile, members of the Maasai and Kikuyu communities living in Narasha have now signed a peace pact. A day after the President’s visit to the area, leaders from the two communities entered into an agreement to “find a lasting solution”.
The meeting at Harambee House was chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and several MPs from Narok and Nakuru counties. The leaders agreed to observe the rule of law particularly on land matters. Lenku said the State will compensate the people whose property was destroyed in the eviction.
By Antony Gitonga and Karanja Njoroge, The Standard
