The outspoken Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno is pushing for alternative ways outside the court to resolve disputes surrounding the expansive Angata Barikoi Group Ranch, where two communities living in the land have long differed over land ownership.
This is after the court ruled in favour of the Maasai Community last week, ordering hundreds of Kipsigis families that were living on the land to vacate within 150 days or face forceful eviction.
The 6,300-acre piece of land in Trans Mara West Sub county has been under dispute for over 40 years with the legal ownership not really well-known.
Ng’eno who spoke in Angata Barikoi area Saturday during a thanksgiving ceremony said he will appeal against the Judgement made by the Narok Environment and Land Court Judge Mohamed Kullow on Thursday last week.
“We are going to appeal against the ruling, but I request you not to promote any tension or hatred on the ground because I believe we will get a permanent solution that will favour all of us,” said Ng’eno.
The MP called on all the elected and local elders in the county to come together to look for a solution that will help in bringing cohesion and integration in the county.
“We cannot separate the Kipsigis and Maasai communities in Narok because God created it that way. That is why I am advocating for an alternative way of resolving the land issue outside the court,” he said.
He said that it was shameful for people to fight because of small things like land ownership saying the two communities need to live together in peace.
“When the appeal is ongoing in court, we will sit down with local leaders and elders to come up a solution that will be favourable to everybody,” said Ng’eno.
Present during the occasion was the County Executive Member of Lands John Marindany who represented Governor Samuel Ole Tunai, and area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Gabriel Mibei.
Land has always been an emotive issue and one of the leading causes of clashes in parts of the county.
By Ann Salaton
