There was drama on Tuesday at the Kajiado-Makueni border as Governor Joseph Ole Lenku's government askaris invaded the Ukambani county to repossess government land.
In a span of two hours, 100 county officers invaded the contested 1,850-acre farm in Emali town and positioned themselves around the perimeter of the land to make sure no one left or entered the premises, which hosts Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) offices.
The siege was, however, unsuccessful as the officers would soon realise that all TARDA officials had vacated and left the buildings empty.
[caption caption="TARDA Project Manager Sammy Muringe (front) assailed by Kajiado county askaris"]
[/caption]
The more than 25 workers only left behind their project manager, Mr Sammy Muringe to engage the Kajiado officers.
Governor Ole Lenku's County Executive Council member in charge of Land, Mr Hamilton Parseina, would later explain to Mr Muringe that TARDA's land lease had expired.
"We are here to take over the management of this farm from today since your organisation has failed to pay even a single cent to the county government and at the same time your lease has expired," Mr Parseina threatened.
A firm Mr Muringe responded by telling the officials that there was a laid-out procedure for such matters.
"I’m sorry I cannot hand over Government property without authority from my seniors. You will have to wait until I get communication from the head office in Nairobi," he asserted.
The Standard reports that TARDA has been working on the contested land for close to 30 years and had never paid the former Olkejuado County Council (presently Kajiado County).
Parseina further stated that the company had been served with an eviction notice which they had allegedly chosen to ignore.
"TARDA was requested to vacate the property within 21 days. The notice was dated September 25. After failing to do so, we decided to evoke the governor’s order this (Tuesday) evening," he stated.
[caption caption="Kajiado CEC Members Moses Ole Narok (left) and Hamilton Parseina (right)"]
[/caption]
Accompanied by his Agriculture counterpart Moses ole Narok, the cabinet executives noted that Governor Ole Lenku had intentions to develop the land into a hay production site, a venture that will cost the county government Sh40 Million.
