Residents of Chepchoina Village in Trans Nzoia County are counting losses after their county government demolished their houses and are now seeking refuge at Katikomor market in West Pokot County.
West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okello who visited the area promised the evictees national and county government’s support urging them to remain peaceful as they plan to have an amicable solution with their counterpart in Trans Nzoia County.
Speaking during the meeting held in Katikomor Market Centre, Okello said the county security team will contact the county government of Trans Nzoia to have an amicable solution once a joint meeting is held next week.
“We understand you are having problems here but the government that put you here is the same one that is going to deal with your issues. I ask you to be patient as the government works out plans to solve the problem,” said Okello.
He added that the evictees’ complaints had been received and the government is listening to them with concern.
Hundreds of residents have spent the nights in the cold faulting the county government of Trans Nzoia and Agriculture Development Corporation (ADC) for the demolished houses in a land which they claim to have genuinely acquired after being denated to them by former President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi in the year 1994.
The victims claim it was on March 6, 2021 morning when they woke up to the sounds of bulldozers and police officers demolishing the houses they have called home for many years.
Some expressed fears that their demands to get back their land would be futile since they have no allotment letters but they genuinely acquired the parcels of land.
The evictions and migration of the victims to the market is said to have caused some tension among the pupils at the nearby Katikomor Primary in West Pokot County.
The county government of West Pokot donated 100 Mosquito nets and 100 mats to the affected families and promised government support with food and water.
by Anthony Melly/Muhambe
