Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto has been freed after denying charges of destroying properties. Kitale Court ruled that the legislature should pay Ksh500,000 cash bail.
Kapenguria Member of Parliament Samuel Moroto had been arrested on Sunday, March 7 while visiting hundreds of families evicted from the Chepchoina Settlement Scheme in Trans-Nzoia County.
The MP was arrested by the criminal investigation officers from Endebess Sub County led by Endebess DCIO Peter Ochieng. The legislature had reportedly gone to see the evicted families at the Katikomor market camping site when he was arrested.
"The officers blocked our car and said that the MP was under arrest. The officers claimed they had a warrant of arrest from back in 2017," an aide of the MP had told The Standard.
Moroto was reportedly driven to Endebess police station and arraigned in Kitale Court on Monday, March 8.
Over 200 families were evicted from the said settlement scheme on Sunday, March 7 by security forces.
The residents claimed that they were ordered to vacate the land without being given adequate notice.
The eviction came after the recently witnessed disputes over the land between squatters who were allegedly allocated the land by the Agricultural Development Authority and the government.
“The County Commissioner of Trans Nzoia has destroyed people's settlements without issuing an eviction order from the court,” one of the victims said amidst tears.
On Saturday, March 6, heavily armed police officers launched an operation at Chepchoina phase two area in an operation meant to pave way for legitimate beneficiaries of the land in a row.
