Friday, 11 April, 2025
Senate Committee assesses land injustices affecting Olderkesi Community in Narok County๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐
The Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Chaired by Senator Mohamed Faki of Mombasa, engaged with petitioners from the Olderkesi community in Narok West Constituency, Narok County who are suffering from longstanding land injustices.
At the heart of the discussions was the Olderkesi Group Ranch, a substantial communal land spanning approximately 101,313 acres located in the Esoit location of Naikarra ward. Since January 5, 2013, about 7,818 acres of this land has been designated as the Olderkesi Conservancy, which borders the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve and stands as one of the 24 conservancies in the area.
The petitioners highlighted ongoing concerns regarding a lease that has been held by an investor, Mr. Calvince Cottars, since the 1920s. Despite this prolonged tenure, the community has not received any compensation or benefits from the leasehold. Uncertainty surrounds the status of the lease, as community members remain unaware of any renewal processes and their repeated attempts to seek resolution through various governmental channels including the Narok County Governor, the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission have yielded no results.
Furthermore, issues of land allocation were brought to light during the meeting. The community was initially promised a share of 3 acres per member, but allegations surfaced that committee members misappropriated large chunks of land for personal gain. Some officials reportedly sold parcels of land secretly and the original membership lists were not disclosed as required by law. One petitioner expressed frustration over the misleading conduct of the adjudication officer and his team, who overlooked bona fide members while including names of non-members in the registry.
In light of these grievances, the petitioners are calling on Senator Fakiโs committee to take decisive action. They seek a thorough investigation to identify original members of the Olderkesi Group Ranch and ensure equitable land distribution. Additionally, they request an examination of the founding and financial details surrounding the Olderkesi Conservancy, including the lease amount paid by Mr. Cottars and the establishment of a transparent record concerning land sales and transfers to protect indigenous rights.
In response to the allegations, lawmakers have committed to conducting a site visit in Narok County alongside representatives from the National Lands Commission and local government entities. This visit aims to ascertain the accuracy of the petitioners' claims and gather essential insights before drafting a comprehensive report on the situation.