William Ruto Promises 6,000 Acres of Kedong Ranch to Maasai During Narok Tour: "Ndani ya Wiki Moja"
- President William Ruto has pledged an additional 6,000 acres of the disputed Kedong Ranch to the Maasai community in Narok county
- The title deeds for the allocated land are set to be issued within one week, pending a final list of beneficiaries
- Ruto also transferred the management of Mau Forest to the Narok County Government and announced fencing plans to curb encroachment
TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
As tension around land ownership brews once more in Narok county, President William Ruto has stepped in with a decisive announcement that could reshape long-standing disputes and environmental management in the region.
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Speaking during a public address in Suswa on Tuesday, May 6, Ruto revealed that the government would allocate an additional 6,000 acres of the contested Kedong Ranch land to members of the Maasai community.
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The land, a frequent flashpoint in legal and political battles, also houses key national infrastructure, including the Naivasha Inland Dry Port.
"While in Suswa, you requested that part of the land be returned to the community. The government had already given you 4,000 acres, and now we will allocate an extra 6,000 acres," the president announced.
He assured locals that the beneficiaries of the land allocation would receive their title deeds within a week, once the government receives the final list of recipients.
“I will issue the title deeds after being supplied the list of beneficiaries. In one week, the title deeds will be here with you,” Ruto stated.
Was Mau Forest handed over to Narok county?
In addition to the Kedong Ranch pledge, Ruto announced a landmark decision to transfer the management of the Mau Forest from the national government to the Narok County Government.
According to Ruto, the move is aimed at improving conservation and ending perennial land disputes.
"To help resolve the longstanding political disputes surrounding the Mau Forest, I am here today to formally present its title deed to the Narok County Government. This move is aimed at putting an end to the ongoing controversy," he stated.
The president noted that the forest, which is a critical water catchment area, will now be managed locally to better serve both the environment and the community.
He also announced that the government had allocated funds to construct a perimeter fence around the Mau Forest, beginning with 100 kilometres in the first phase.
"The Narok County Government will now manage the forest on behalf of local residents and the country at large. I've also secured funding to fence off the entire area to prevent encroachment," Ruto added.
Ruto firmly stated that despite rumours, his administration would not allow resettlement within the forest.
The Mau Forest has historically been the subject of fierce land disputes and evictions, with unresolved boundary issues often leading to violence and loss of life.
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What sparked deadly clashes in Ang'ata Barikoi?
Ruto's remarks came shortly after an incident in which five people were killed and several others injured when a land dispute in Ang'ata Barikoi, Kilgoris, Narok county, turned violent.
The clashes erupted between residents and authorities when locals protested the planned demarcation of a 6,500-acre piece of land. Police, deployed to manage the unrest, allegedly opened fire after demonstrators blocked roads and resisted survey efforts.
Tensions intensified when angry locals torched a government vehicle and engaged police in running battles. Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, who visited the scene, confronted armed officers, demanding accountability for the killings.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
