Africa-Press – Kenya. President Uhuru Kenyatta has intervened over a standoff between residents seeking claim of the 56,000 acres of the Ntulele Group Ranch in Narok County.
The Head of State has given the Ministry of Lands 21 days to solve the 40-year dispute between the members of the ranch.
“The President has ordered the Ministry of Lands, the office of the county government to work together and solve the 40-year standoff between members of this group ranch with 21 days and prepare their titles for issuance in July,” Lands Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri stated.
The Lands PS added that, as per the order of the President, he would lead a team of surveyors to the property in order to settle the dispute before Uhuru’s visit to the ranch in July.
The news comes as the members of the ranch had decried the delayed issuance of title deeds to Narok Governor Samuel Tunai.
The governor stated that leadership wrangles among the Maasai clans living in the land contributed to the stalemate. Further, he noted that the case dragged in court due to interference of the membership lists.
He added that the government would ensure that the residents received their title deeds.
This is not the first time Uhuru has intervened in a land dispute. Recently, he requested a section of Isiolo residents to withdraw the cases they had filed in court against the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Over 7,500 Isiolo families had accused the KDF 78 Batallion of evicting them from their land in May 2021.
They alleged that KDF put down their structures at night- which was contrary to a court order which had halted the eviction process until the case is determined in court.
Uhuru assured the residents that they would get their land back. He added that the State was formulating plans to move the KDF 78 Batallion from the land.
