Tension mounts over grazing lands as locals fail to agree

Thursday, July 25, 2013

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Controversy is building between herders who have invaded Kilifi and Tana River counties and parts of Voi, and locals following orders issued last month for them to leave the areas.

Though some residents are willing to lease their grazing land out, some want the herders kicked out.

Most of the herders who are from the frontier counties have been grazing their animals in the areas near the Tsavo conservancy for years, sometimes with the written consent of ranchers and local people for a fee.

Last month, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the police and provincial administration pushed most of them out of Taita Taveta. Yesterday, residents in Voi told the ranchers in a forum that some herders were flouting the lease agreements with others dismissing them all together.

“We do not have any agreements with these people anymore. There were few agreements and we have checked and found they did not follow the right procedures,” charged Donald Bonghosa, the chairman of Taita Ranchers Association.

Tana Delta deputy County Commissioner Mike Kimoko said beside Hurara, the herders have also invaded Kipini and Garsen areas.

“It is true that they have invaded the Tana Delta and as we are speaking, tension is building up at Hurara,” said Mr Kimoko.

Last week, Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye defended the herders saying they have legal agreements with local ranchers and accused the state of evicting them against a court order.

The herders have accused the state of brutality and allege that one of them succumbed to wounds inflicted on him during a forceful removal exercise.

Mr Kimoko however, remained adamant that the herders will be expelled if they do not leave willingly. Last week Tana River governor warned that foreign herders and livestock are causing tension in the region and asked them to leave.

In Kilifi, members of Ndigiria group ranch in Ganze district of Kilifi County, on Monday differed on the matter. While some wanted the herders to graze their livestock at a fee, others were against them on their land.

The meeting chaired by the assistant County Commissioner for Bamba division Stephen Kaloki was called off after the local people failed to agree on a grazing request by two herders.

The chairman of the ranch Charo Mdzomba confirmed that the 42 families who own the ranch land had agreed to allow Salat on the farm.

“When Mr Salat arrived in our area, we held meeting with him and agreed that we allow him to graze and water his animals but problem started when the other herders came in three months ago and started grazing animals without our consent,” said Mr Mdzomba.

But a section of the members led by Mramba Mweni said herders are a threat and should not be allowed in the region, claiming they were responsible for crime including murder and rape.

“The memories on how we suffered from the attacks coordinated by suspected bandits 15 years ago are still fresh in our minds and we fear that if these herders are allowed in the area the same thing will happen” said Mr Mdzomba.

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