BOMET JOINS KERICHO IN SUING THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

The County government of Bomet is now planning to dipatch a team of surveyors to establish the total acreage of the tea farms owned by Multinational Tea Companies within the county with an aim of pushing for compensation from the British government.

Speaking after meeting with the MCAs , Governor Joyce Laboso said her government will ensure that the residents whose lands were forcefully taken by the Colonial Government get their property back.

Laboso said the team will be visiting the tea growing areas in Konoin subcounty to ascertain the exact area occupied by the multinationals.

Already Kericho County Government has taken up a case with the Brithish Government in a bid to seek compensation for the atrocities meted on the locals by the Colonial government.

Last year, Nairobi lawyer Kimutai Bosek, who is handling the Kericho case with British lawyer Karim Khan, said his team of experts had discovered "terrible and horrifying" pieces of evidence about the atrocities that the British government was aware of.

Laboso lauded her counterpart Paul Chepkwony over the steps he has taken in seeking to compel the British government to the pay costs for the damages, Laboso noted that, "As a government we are together on this because we want our people to get their rights."

The move by the governor comes in the wake of a declaration by the National land commission (NLC) will not renew leases for the vast tea farms in Kericho and Bomet.

Unilever, George Williamson, Sotik highlands and James Finlay are the multinationals operating in the area in the two counties and which set to be affected in the move.

The firms owns up to 200, 000 hectares of land which initially belonged to the residents.

Lawyer Kimutai Bosek who is representing the two counties said they have explored all options over the matter expressing optimism that the British government will yield in to their demands.

Speaking during the meeting, Bosek they will use alternative dispute resolutions mechanisms in pursuing for compensation over the matter.

Bomet county assembly speaker Shadrack Rotich said as the legislative arm they are ready to support the course be it by holding public participations as to sensitize the locals or coming with policies over it.