The government on Thursday announced the immediate suspension of the Mwea resettlement exercise that has been a source of conflict for Kirinyaga and Embu County.
The Ministry of Interior stated that decision was reached following consultations between Dr Fred Matiang'i and Lands CS Farida Karoney.
"The Government has suspended with immediate effect the resettlement exercise that has been going on in Mwea area of Kirinyaga and Embu Counties.
"The suspension was made following consultations between Lands and Interior Cabinet Secretaries Farida Karoney and Dr. Fred Matiang’i," read a tweet by Mwenda Njoka, Ministry of Interior spokesperson.
[caption caption="Fred Matiang'i"]
[/caption]
Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru had opposed the allocation of land at the settlement scheme to some 7,200 beneficiaries, noting the decision was against an active court order.
She accused the Embu County government of attempts to cause animosity between the two neighbouring counties following its decision to move into the disputed land.
In a press statement to newsrooms, the governor claimed that the surveying and allocation of the land were not inclusive as they lacked public participation and the primary stakeholders were not involved.
Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga dismissed those claims stating the Mwea settlement scheme lies in his county.
He further added that history clearly confirms that the contested land is not in Kirinyaga.
Earlier this week, five people were shot during confrontations with the police at the scheme.
The injured were part of a group that tried to block those who had been allocated pieces of land from accessing their parcels.
[caption caption="Njeru Ndwiga"]
[/caption]
