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Emergency - Ogiek Land Grabbed
In Nkareta - Narok District
Press Release - 10th Dec 2004
The Ogiek of Nkareta Location are crying for help after their land was grabbed recently by former
powerful government individuals who liaise with the provincial administration. According to the information
at hand, a group of five administration police officers were sent by the local District commissioner Mr. John
Egesa to protect the land grabbers and their private surveyors in demarcating the 2,000acres
parcel. The demarcation is currently going on.
The Marobet group ranch of the Ogiek people from the Kaplelach Clan have been the only inhabitants since
the time immemorial.
The group ranch with approx. 230 members are led by their top officials as named below.
a) Salaton Nadunguenkop- Chairman
b) Koileken Sadiko- Treasurer
c) Stephen Kamakei- Secretary.
The officials have been the core target of violation of human rights by the perpetrators.
They have several times been intimidated even with guns by the same people who are the orphans of the former
government.
Despite the Ndungu report not made public (yet), the suspects in the report are now on the site putting up
their structures amid cries from the community.The Ogiek had organised themselves each having at least
5acres for the start.
In a press conference in Nakuru town this morning, the Ogiek demanded the release of the Ndungu report to the
public, though there is suspicion that it has been doctored after a long awaiting. The Ogiek also demand for the
formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address
the issue of historical injustices on land, of which they are the
victims.
The community has condemned the area district commissioner for protecting these powerful tycoons.The
DC has been dishonouring title deeds of the Ogiek members.He is partisan, political and a profit making
officer. The Ogiek are calling upon president Kibaki to sack this officers sooner than
later. Also their hired surveyors should be brought to the book.
Some of the tycoons named are Sylvester Ndutu, a brother of Hon. Stephen Ndutu (Narok south), Ole Kiok
(former councillor), Councillor Kimorgo and Kaite Kiok. They have made the Ogiek landless and some displaced
from their ancestral land, where bee keeping, and cultural as well as traditional activities have been put
to a halt this year.
The brother to Ndutu has been on record for carrying a gun and intimidating people opposed to his policies
of eyeing and grabbing community land.
In the Police OB No. 37 -3/9/04, Sylvester was accused of threatening to kill Mr. Salaton. Also he had threatened to
kill Lawyer Charles Saina Sena early this year.
What is the government position? No action has yet be taken!
Do we have a government or not?
Despite heavy protest by Ogiek leaders country wide, everything is being assumed and or overlooked.
The solution is to seek to mobilize all Kenyans to vote out the NARC regime at the coming 2007 general election.
Long live Ogiek! Long live the Mau Forest.
Regards
Kiplangat Cheruiyot & Saitoti Tanki
Ogiek Human Rights Defenders
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