A group of officials met in Ngong last Saturday to discuss the disputed Keekonyokie land in Kajiado. Keekonyokie farmers cooperative society and local Keekonyokie clan members have been at logerheads over who owns the plot.
Kajiado county commissioner Kobia wa Kamau, his deputy Mwangi Kahiro, Kajiado West MP Moses Sakuda and Keekonyokie ward representative George Sunkuya met with members from the two groups to arbitrate the matter.
Last week, a government-appointed liquidator secretly met with a Nigerian investor, Zenith Realtors Ltd.
Stanley Ongeti was appointed to dispose of the disputed Keekonyokie land.
The cooperative society members yesterday stormed the Deputy County Commissioner's office to air their dissatisfaction over Ongeti's meeting with Zenith. Ongeti wants to sell the 478 hectare land at a cost of Sh3.7 billion against the will of the majority. Sakuda said he will ensure he reconciles the two groups.
“These are brothers and cousins and we cannot allow them to squabble over a matter that can be sorted out,” he said. At the Ngong meeting, the two communities who had been summoned to appear before the county commissioner and his deputy could not shake hands. Those opposed to the sale of the land to a Nigerian investor, Zenith Realstors Ltd said they have smelt a rat that their MP is allegedly colluding a section of the Keekonyokie socity members to sell the land.
Sakuda denied supporting any group. The local MCA, Sunkuya, is supporting those who do not want the land to be sold.
Chief Francis Kerea led the group that is opposed to the sale of the land while Assistant chief David Kirrimpai headed the other. At the venue of the meeting in the deputy Commissioners boardroom in Ngong , Assistant county commissioner, Everlyne Karisa had a difficult time controlling the two groups who sat facing one another.
At the time of filing this report, the stormy meeting was in process and it appeared it would take the entire day.
Outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office tension was high as those from the two groups who had earlier been told to leave the meeting and to allow only a few to meet with the county commissioner kept quietr at each other.The presence of security in and around the meeting venue helped to reduce the tension.