County
Fourteen people were left nursing injuries and over 40 cows stolen after members of Purko Ranch Trustland clashed with the community at Ilkiremisho area in Narok North Sub-County.
The demonstrators protesting against a move by the ranch officials to bar them from grazing their livestock in the ranch despite the land belonging to the community. Speaking to the press at Ilkiremisho, Jackson Sururu, a resident, who witnessed the clashes said trouble began when a section of herders pushed their livestock into the trust land forcing the staff members to attempt to remove them forcibly.
This attracted the ire of the members of the community who retaliated by throwing stones and using Maasai rungus to fight back the staff members who were protecting the trust land.
As a result of the feud, 14 people who were injured were admitted at Nakuru referral hospital, among them four women who were heading to Tipis trading centre, and the other 10 were youths while over 40 cows were stolen during the mayhem.
“Being a market day at Tipis Centre, these people were moving with their animals to the trading Centre, while others were looking after their livestock along the fencing line, where they met with security staff protecting the trustland and the quarrels erupted,” said Sururu.
Another member and a resident, Stephen Yengo complained of what they term as bad leadership and mismanagement of the resources within the community land. Yengo also claims the current leadership of the trust are in office for over seven years of which according to the constitution their term has expired.\
Photo shows Bishop Nakola during a press briefing with media in Narok
NoomaliEnolengerso called on the county leadership to come on board to resolve the issues among the Purko Trust management and the Ilkiremisho community. Enolengerso also called for the release of the arrested youths who invaded the land.
On the other hand, the chairman of the board of management Purko trust land, Bishop Peter Nakola said the violence started between the community and the staff protecting the trust land due to trespass issues adding that people were invading the land to graze their livestock forcibly of which the management restrained the community for a period of time.
Bishop Nakola confirmed that over 40 cows have been stolen during the mayhem within the land where they have recovered 14 cows, 1 cow has been slaughtered while the remaining 26 cows are yet to be recovered. The Bishop also said there are few individuals who have been arrested for causing the chaos.
“We have experienced the destruction of properties of Purko land trust, of which we condemn the act,” added Bishop Nakola Bishop Nakola noted that Purko Trust Land has benefited the community and added over 50 acres of land has been set aside where they have built a high school and primary school for the community.
He also said that there are many youths and women who have benefited from employment within the trust land, adding that many school going learners benefited from Purko Trust bursary kitty. Bishop Nakola also applauded the security who have calmed the situation and rescued the property of Purko Trust and saved lives.
He said that the board has been in office for six years now; of which they drafted the constitution, and this is the final year in office; adding the board’s term is expiring this year and it will depend on the Purko general assembly. Bishop. Nakola also said the Trust, was established in 1956 registered under the Purko community of Narok County and has been operating with a focus on livestock breeding for sale.
The bishop called on the community to be calm and embrace unity among themselves and avoid political divisions.
