Former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union, human rights activist and Current Member of the Presidential Advisory Board of the Republican National Committee, USA Dr.Isaac Newton Kinity has weighed in on the dispute around the over 5,000 acre piece of land at Ndabibi Farm in Naivasha.
In a statement, Dr. Kinity who has been a strong critic of the President William Ruto’s administration, faulted the government for alleged use of force to evict the elderly farmers from the farm.
The former unionist has challenged President Ruto to move with speed and find a lasting solution over the land dispute by returning it to the rightful owners.
He at the same time told off President Ruto for claiming that he bought the land from one Kipkulei.
According to Dr. Kinity, the President’s claim has no supportive credible evidence as court findings had invalidated Kipkulei’s ownership.
“The Ndabibi farm was originally owned by the late Gilbert Colville, who allocated it to 140,000 Kenyan workers in his will before his death in 1966. Ndabibi Farmers won a legal battle over the land in 2015, yet the issue resurfaced after President Ruto claimed to have purchased the entire 5,000-acre farm from Kipkulei,” he stated.
This, even as Dr. Kinity likened the Ndabibi case to a previous land dispute involving President Ruto, as in 2013, Ruto was ordered by the court to return 100 acres of land belonging to the late Adrian Mutesi and pay Ksh 5 million in damages after it was found he had acquired the land irregularly.
While noting that land issues in Kenya remain a challenge, the former unionist was quick to point out that culture of impunity has continued to derail justice.
According to him, historical land injustices are as a result of the past administrations, an issue he says should be addressed by Kenyans electing leaders and government that will bring the same including corruption, land grabbing to an end.
“Historical land injustices which previous governments have failed to address is a thorn that can only be addressed when we have a government that will put to an end land grabbing and corruption,” stated Dr. Kinity.
Author: Pristone Mambili
A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.