Nandi Governor in trouble over alleged destruction of tea property in Nandi county
Photo :courtesy the star
Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang has faced a tough moment after being accused and charged with malicious damage of property, incitement and abuse of office.
Governor Sang who was accompanied by county surveyors and hundreds of residents of Ketchem-Kapteng area visited Kibwari tea estate armed with a power saw and a caterpillar. He led the residents to destroy at least 2,500 mature tea bushes which is managed under the agency of Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK) Limited.
The governor said that the county government was forcefully reclaiming the land that was allocated to the multinational company saying it was irregularly allocated. It is alleged that the piece of land was grabbed from the community in 2003 after a white man reportedly surrendered it for the construction of a cattle dip.
“We are here as a County Government in response to a complaint that was raised by members of this community about this four acre piece of land that used to serve as a cattle dip that they built using their own money,” Governor Sang said.
Governor Sang added that the residents have suffered a lot since the demolition of the cattle dip. “The challenge that the residents are facing is that they are unable to access the services of a cattle dip because it was maliciously damaged,” he said.
Appearing before Kisumu magistrate Beryl Omollo, the county boss was charged for authorizing the county earth movers to destroy tea bushes valued at Ksh. 2 Million, he denied the charges and was released on a Ksh. 1 Million bond or Ksh. 500,000 cash bail. The hearing of the case was set for September 19, 2019.
Kapchorwa MCA John Kebenei who is also the county assembly chief whip was arraigned and presented in a Nandi court and charged over the destruction of Kibwari tea estate alongside the county driver who was charged for operating the earth mover that was used to destroy the tea bushes.
by kipkemoi lang’at
About Author
