Moi family among power barons in next Mau forest evictions – Weekly Citizen

Ailing retired president Daniel arap Moi family has received orders to vacate Kiptagich Tea Estate land or be forced out.

According to a source close to the family, the family has decided to vacate the land and even avoided running to court to stop the eviction. The state does not want to be seen as playing double standards in the Mau eviction plan more so, after the so-called have-nots obeyed eviction notice leaving the haves behind.

Gedion Moi

The Moi family annexed the land in 1978 and has been growing tea to supply its Kiptagich Tea Factory that is located in Kericho county along Kericho-Nakuru highway. Documents Weekly Citizen has seen show, the estate is part of the Mau Forest Complex and is one of those owned by who is who in Kenya that need to be repossessed before the year ends..

From the look of things, the multistate agencies involved do not want tycoons to enjoy Christmas and New Year hence need to meet Mau eviction deadline that was not supposed to get to next year.

Already, panic has gripped the land cartel that was involved in the subdivision of Mau forest land after word leaked that Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti is set to arrest and charge top government officials who were behind the syndicate of issuing title deeds to squatters.

Also in great panic are officials of group ranches that recruited members and allocated them land with the help of local officials of land control board. Over a dozen members of land control board some of them who served as district commissioners and district officers have been implicated in the authorisation of the land transactions.

Documents in the Lands ministry under cabinet secretary Farida Karoney show that Moi’s Kiptagich land is located inside the Mau forest. Kiptagich got the lion’s share of 14,103.7 hectares that was hived off the forest and allocated to five groups ranches; Sisiayni, Nkaroni, Enoosokoin, Enakishomi and Keiyo. Keiyo ranch was associated with the late powerful cabinet minister in Moi era Nicholas Biwott.

Land document reveal, out of the 417,973 total blocks in Mau forest, Kiptagich tea farm, in Trans Mara is deep inside the Mau forest. Environment cabinet secreatary Keriako Tobiko is coordinating the eviction process and has been accused of sparing power barons illegally occupying public forest land.

Mark Too

The state has ruled out compensation to the affected persons since they are criminals and need to be arrested.

Confidential state documents in our possession reveal, out of the 3,372 households that totals to 16,000 occupants to be evicted, only 716 individuals have valid tile deeds. Of this, 4,439 occupiers had sale agreements and letters of allotment while the rest being 2741 have no documents at all.

The state in its eviction plan argues that no evidence exists. The then county council of Narok, that was holding the land in trust, invoked the provisions of section 13 of the Trust Land Act to allow private individuals acquire titles over forest land.

To avoid future encroachment, Narok South deputy county commissioner Felix Kisalu is overseeing a 10-kilometre distance cutline.

We have established, Baringo senator Gideon Moi also allocated himself land apart from that the family owns. Others are former Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita, who served as Commissioner of Lands, Joshua Kulei, former nominated MP late Mark Too and a former PS Zachayo Cheruiyot.

Kulei

Others who benefited are Olechukiche Group (767 hectares), Rikana ole Setek (70 hectares), Olonana K (202 hectares), Lolkeri ole Kiok (88 hectares), Kitilai ole Ntutu (580 hectares), Leonard Lemotowuan (62 hectares), Lolkeri ole Kiok, (62 hectares) and who Kitilai ole Ntutu owns (142 hectares).

Others are Tunai ole Lumulee (73 hectares), Evan Makori and Leonard Ogeto (81 hectares), William Kilele (0.1 acres), Richard Kipkosgei (0.125 acres), Paul Maina (0.5 acres) and Torongoi Kilele (0.5 acres).

Former Prisons commissioner Abraham Kamakil, a reverendBett and former Mogotio MP William Morogo also benefitted but had their allotment letters cancelled.

Saccos in controversial allocation were owned by teachers namely Kipyego, Kapsowar and Koibomoi.