A US-based technocrat has said developing the land will not only give people an essential sense of pride, but will also create job opportunities, and spur economic growth
By Jonathan Teikan
A bid to subdivide the Keekonyokie Community Trust Land, is misinformed and not in the best interest of the community, says a US-based technocrat Daniel ole Ting’a.
Speaking to Kajiado County News on phone, Ting’a, a business solutions lead architect at Lennox International, argued that a subdivision of the prime 2,800-acre land in Kibiko, will inevitably lead to needless chaos, and will have far-reaching political ramifications.
“Once the land is subdivided, a majority of the beneficiaries would most likely rush to sell their portions, the aftermath of which will see an influx of immigrants to the county, and who would definitely have unprecedented influence on the political landscape in the community.”
Furthermore, he said: “There is a very high likelihood, for the infamous history of the Keekonyokie farmers co-operative society land, which some beneficiaries sold their parcels immediately upon receipt of their title deeds, to undesirably get replicated.”
Meanwhile, two warring factions — one led by Moses Parantai and the other by Moses ole Monik — that are fighting over a leadership mandate of the land, are seemingly not about to come to a consensus, as each faction has since taken a hard line.
The duo are pushing for the subdivision of the land.
Moreover, the issue is apparently taking a fateful political twist; and deepening political rifts between political bigwigs supporting either of the factions.
Furthermore, he says he has been following on the discussions keenly, but there seems to be no clear roadmap that guarantees equitable share of the land to all community members.
Speaking separately, Keekonyokie Ward Representative Moses Saoyo said, “It’s not practical to give all the community members a share in the land… We intend to have at least a person per family, and once one of our family member gets a share, the rest of us will be contented.”
The lawmaker further said that in the event of the eventual subdivision, the people currently living in Kibiko; and the Ilmerishi and Ilkimayiana age-sets will be given a first priority.
The two age-sets, Saoyo said, constitute a majority of the community members without land on the ground, hence tentatively deserve a preference.
However, Tinga differed with the lawmaker, noting that, “Kibiko is not for a select few, but all the community members, irrespective of their political affiliations, gender identity, age-group, or any other such consideration.”
In his views, the land can be better utilized intact for the collective good of all the community members — both current generations and their posterities.
“The community leadership, can come up with creative mechanisms to mobilize resources to build, say; an industrial hub, an institution of higher learning, a referral hospital, and a research or techno centres,” he said.
This in return, he said, will not only give people an essential sense of pride, but will also create job opportunities, and spur economic growth.
