Assembly adopts a motion to review lands held by multinationals

MAY,15TH 2023-
The County Assembly has adopted a motion   urging the County Government to initiate a resurvey of the parcels of land held by the Multinational Tea companies within Bomet County. The process, if conducted, will determine the exact acreage currently held by the tea companies and any parcels excess of what the companies initially leased be reverted back to the County government.

The motion  was moved by Chepchabas MCA,Hon Wesley Kiprotich. who based his argument  on the  recommendations made by the National Land Commission (NLC) that asked  the affected county  governments to re-survey the lands held by tea multinationals. He asked the county government to   move with  speed and constitute a commission of experts to expedite the process. He said that the affected communities had endured  untold suffering after they were forcibly moved evicted by the colonial government.

"The verdict by the NLC is a win to the Kipsigis Community and since land management  is a devolved  function, the County Government should move with speed a re-survey the land. " He said.

" This Assembly should enter the history books as the one that brought an end to the suffering of the affected communities. We cannot wait for another 99 years for the leases to relapse so that we begin to act, by so doing,  we will be doing an injustice to the current and the future  generations.'' He added.

He also  cautioned the County Government to ensure that the  community land held in trust by the Tea Multinationals is not converted into free hold ownership. 

The motion was seconded by Kimulot MCA  Hon. Eric Kirui who said the surplus land that will be gained through the process will help generate more revenue to the County Government. He urged the Multinational Tea Companies to cooperate and support the process.

Mogogosiek MCA Hon . Ernest Kipkemoi said that there has been a rising tension between multinational tea companies and the neighbouring communities  due to the unresolved historical land injustices. He said that modern land survey techniques should be employed to ensure that exact acreage of lands held by tea multinationals is determined. His sentiments were shared by the Leader of Majority Hon. Paul Kirui.

Other members who contributed to the motion include Nathan Kibet (Kapletundo), Rosaline Cheptoo (Rongena Manaret) and Stephen Changmorik (Longisa).

Following the passing of the motion, the County Government is expected to constitute a committee of experts to implement NLC resolutions within the next 30 days.