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"id": 681,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/681/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kigen",
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"speaker": {
"id": 44,
"legal_name": "Luka Kipkorir Kigen",
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"content": "On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No.76 to make a Personal Statement regarding the state of security in the disputed Banita Settlement Scheme, constant arrest of my supporters, harassment of my workers in the constituency office and trumped up charges on instigation of some officers in the Provincial Administration. In the recent past, my constituency has witnessed a number of worrying events. On 29th November, 2011, an attempt was made to bury the body of one Ngari Mbugua on the disputed Banita Settlement Scheme land in my constituency. The deceased, Ngari Mbugua, was brought from outside the parcel of land in dispute for burial in the settlement scheme. The OCPD, Subukia, Mr. Wesonga, advised the DC, Rongai, that the burial of the deceased could not proceed on the disputed land owing to the existence of a court order barring such activities until a court case involving the land has been heard and determined. The OCPD, Subukia, consequently withdrew from the scene together with her officers. The DC, Rongai, however, defiantly proceeded despite the advice of the OCPD, Subukia, to authorize the burial of the late Mbugua on the disputed land amidst heightened tension between the feuding communities with the Administration Police officers from the DC’s office presiding over the burial. In less than two hours after the burial, the body of the late Mbugua was exhumed by unknown people, but was subsequently re-buried amidst tight security by APs and heightened tension in the area. On 7th December, 2011, a contingent of police officers led by the DCIO from Nakuru stormed my office at Kambi Ya Moto District headquarters, arrested my Constituency Manager, Sylvester Ndotona and one Amos Konyayei and impounded the constituency motor vehicle, Registration No. GKA 610V. The impounded Land Rover remains at the Nakuru CID Headquarters up to now ostensibly on the instructions of a senior officer in the Office of the President; that it remains there. On the same day, 7th December, 2011, during a cattle auction held at the disputed settlement scheme, two of my close political supporters, namely, Kimunai Kemeiywa and Chemitei Kipchumba, were arrested and forced into a Land Rover for unexplained reasons, which led to a serious fight between the members of the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities present. In fact, the two are constantly arrested and taken to court on trumped up charges whenever there is fracas or commotion in the settlement scheme. However, there has never been evidence to sustain a charge against any of the two. Some members of the Provincial Administration based in Nakuru have identified a group of my political supporters, mainly the youth, whom they have labeled the “blue boys” and branded them as goons out to cause a breach of peace in the area. These young people who are otherwise known by the community to be law abiding Kenyans, have various trumped up charges pending against them at the instigation of a section of the Provincial Administration, who are using the security apparatus to achieve their selfish interests. Some members of the Provincial Administration based in Nakuru have made unfounded allegations against me to some Government agencies that I am against a particular community being settled in Rongai Constituency. This is intended to depict me in bad light before my constituents. There has been a lot of interference in the running of my constituency by some members of the Provincial Administration through the harassment of people known to support my political stand on various issues. One case in point is the harassment of the Assistant Chief of the Kamsop Area who was recently terrorized in his home by a group of about 200 youths carrying pangas and other crude weapons, who were demanding the production of thugs who had attacked a Boda Boda operator the previous day. The people demanded that he produce the attackers lest they kill him. But the Assistant Chief managed to escape through the cover of darkness. Subsequently, the local DO impounded all the livestock belonging to this Assistant Chief. No investigations have been carried out on the threat against the Assistant Chief nor has anyone been arrested or charged over the same issue. The Provincial Administration and the security apparatus have made no move towards the threat against the Assistant Chief. My constituency is, therefore, experiencing heightened tension and state of insecurity arising from the biased and at times tribal manner in which the Provincial Administration and the Land Adjudication Officers are addressing land disputes in my constituency. If this trend is not quickly addressed, the situation may worsen and lead to loss of live and property. I, therefore, call upon the House to step in and do what it can to reverse this wayward trend. Based on the chronology of events depicted in the foregoing, arrests and harassment of my constituency officers, intimidation, threats and arrests of my supporters, impounding of my CDF Land Rover and the insinuation that myself and the councillor for Makongeni are responsible for the problems bedeviling Banita Settlement Scheme, I feel that there is a clear calculated threat to my life, my family and my political career by senior elements in the Provincial Administration. Consequently, I demand an undertaking from the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security for the following:- (i) Enhancement and assurance of my personal security and that of my family members. (ii) Protection of my political supporters from continuous harassment by the Provincial Administration and security apparatus, in particular, my known supporters, specifically Kimunai Kemeiywa and Chemitei Kipchumba together with a large number of young people who have been branded goons and given a tag of “blue boys” by these political detractors."
}