Lobby group Haki Yetu protested, arguing that the National Land Policy 2009 and the Constitution recognised the need to have an appropriate eviction guideline.
On Monday, deputy county commissioner Mericho Main and Gicheha farm manager George Kyallo resolved to resettle the families on alternative land.
“The complainants are required to come with a list of those requiring resettlement,” Haki Yetu executive director Fr Gabriel Dolan said.
Dolan said Haki Yetu will be working with the community to compile the list.
“We will return to the ground to verify the list of beneficiaries and to submit the same to the DCC,” the Catholic priest said.
He said the families were not furnished with written notices and that the weather is not conducive for eviction, especially during Covid-19.
“In light of this, should any evictions be undertaken in the area, you shall be held personally liable for any human rights violations,” Dolan wrote to the Taveta sub-county administration.
The county government said the eviction is likely to cause a crisis.
“While we respect private property, still it would have been better that the matter was discussed by both governments and the owners of the land to address the problem so as to take sustainable measures to avoid the impending crisis now and in the future,” Taita Taveta Lands executive Julius Mghanga said in a letter to the county commissioner.
Fr Dolan on Tuesday told the Star land disputes need not end up in chaos. “There is always an avenue for dialogue and amicable solution.”
- mwaniki fm
