Nakuru County Commissioner Mohammed Birik has challenged the National Land Commission (NLC) to address historic land injustices to stop escalating conflicts between warring communities.
Birik, who is also the Nakuru County Security and Intelligence Committee chairman indicated that the protracted disputes over land between the Maasai and the Kikuyu communities living in Mai Mahiu require a long lasting solution.
“Nakuru in general has been volatile due to numerous land conflicts that we as security agencies have tried to handle and solve but a long lasting solution from NLC will go a long way in eradicating it,” said Birik.
He urged any individuals or community in the county with legitimate claims on land to seek justice through the courts.
“We should remain calm and wait for a report by Parliamentary Land Commission who recently visited the area and we are expecting its report to help in bringing a lasting solution on the issue,” he added.
Birik indicated that the security committee has put in place measures to ensure that calm has been restored and the two communities co-existed peacefully.
“The government will not allow recurrent land conflicts experienced in the past to resurface in the cosmopolitan county, whose effect will be felt socially, politically and economically,” noted Birik.
The commissioner cautioned some leaders who are alleged to be inciting their communities against each other, saying this might cause fresh tribal conflicts.