The land question has begun taking over the daily political cycle after Deputy President William Ruto, for a second time, vowed to buy off the controversy-ridden Kedong Ranch and revert it back to the Masai community.
In campaigns across Narok region on Saturday, May 28, the DP stated that once he takes power, his government would embark on compulsory acquisition of the 75,000-acre Kedong Ranch and Rose farm - both in Narok County and have been claimed by the local community.
Kedong Ranch is privately owned and has been linked to some members of the Kenyatta family who are reported to be among the 23 shareholders of the mother company - Kedong Company Ltd.
In his speech, the DP argued that the land dispute between the two companies and the locals had dragged on for too long and he was ready to settle it once and for all once he ascended to power.
"The issue that is remaining is the Rose Farm and Kedong Ranch. We need to finish it the way we solved the Mau land issue so that the locals can be given the land's ownership and the Government will pay," stated the DP.
His sentiments were echoed by his allies, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi as well as Garissa Town MP Aden Duale.
Kingi took an issue with how Azimio la Umoja, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, intended to handle land issues, especially with the promise of the Lands Cabinet to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.
"If Ruto can give a solution on land in the Coast, can he be defeated in Kedong?
"When you tell Azimio you have land problems, they only have one solution. They will tell you that they will take one of you and make them a Cabinet Secretary of Lands," stated Kingi.
Duale, on the other hand, argued that the DP was the only Presidential contender with a realistic solution to the land issue that had rocked the community since independence.
"The solution to the land question since independence - will be solved by a Kenya Kwanza Government under the leadership of William Samoei Ruto," explained Duale.
In February 2020, the community rejected 4,000 acres of the land which was given to them arguing that a group of individuals had entered a deal with the landlord behind their back.
While at the Coast, Ruto has also promised to give out parcels of land for free to squatters even as he continued dodging the controversy surrounding ownership of the land he owns in the region.
He also promised to purchase the land through the Government kitty and use it to uplift the lives of Coast residents.
