Ruto promises to buy off Kenyatta family linked Kendong and Rose Farm: The land issue has begun to dominate the daily political cycle after Deputy President William Ruto vowed a second time to buy the disputed Kedong ranch and return it to the Maasai community.
The Democrats campaigned in the Narok area Saturday, May 28, announcing that once in power, their government would begin the forced acquisition of the 75,000-acre Kedong Ranch and Rose Farm in Narok County and managed by the local community.
Kedong Ranch is privately owned and has ties to some members of the Kenyatta family, who are reportedly one of 23 shareholders in parent company Kedong Company Ltd.
In his speech, the UDA party leader argued that the land dispute between the two companies and locals had dragged on for too long and that he was ready to settle it once and for all when he came to power.
“The remaining issues are the Rose Farm and Kedong Ranch. We need to end it in a way that addresses the Mao land issue so that the local people get land ownership and the government pays for it,” the Democrats said.
His ally Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Garissa Town Councillor Aden Duale also expressed his views.
Kingi raised the question of how Azimio la Umoja, led by former Prime Minister Odinga, intends to deal with land issues, particularly the National Cabinet’s commitment to Mombasa Governor Hassan Jojo.
“If Ruto can find a solution on land on the coast, can he be defeated in Kedong?
“If you tell Azimio that you have a land problem, they have only one solution. They will tell you and they will choose one of you and make him the minister of land,” Jinki said.
On the other hand, Duale believes the Democrats are the only presidential candidate who can actually address the land issue that has rocked communities since independence.
“The settlement of the land issue since independence – will be resolved by the Kenyan Kwanza government led by William Samoei Ruto,” declared a dual group of individuals who had struck a deal with the landowners behind.
While on the coast, Ruto also promised to give away the land for free to squatters, although he continued to shy away from disputes over his ownership of land in the area.
He also pledged to buy land through the government treasury and use it to improve the lives of coastal residents.
