Activities at Trasaa town in Tana River County were brought to a stand still after a pastoralist’s community demonstration protesting against what they termed as continued mistreatment directed to them by the Galana Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in the area.
The community is demanding Agricultural Development Corporation in the area to give back their land of about 1.5 millions acres.
They said the agreement time of 40 years of the land leased by ADC has expired and that the land should be given back to them.
Led by Tana River Pastoralists Community Association Chairman (TRPCA) Mr. Ali Wario they said that it is normal practice for property to be handed over to the owner on expiry of lease wondering why the corporation had not done so.
“We know very well that whenever a lease expires the property is supposed to be given to the owners so we don’t know why ADC is still managing our land and yet their lease expired already,’ he lamented.
They also accused the Corporation of extending its boundaries without consulting the locals and also preventing their animals from grazing in the ranch.
“The Corporation has gone to extend of extending boundaries without our consultations and also they refuse locals to graze their animals at the ranch,’ he added.
The community, he noted mostly relies on the ranch during rainy season since it is on higher grounds and free from tsetse flies and flood water.
The TRPCA chairman went further to add that the land should be given back to community since it was lying idle with no major activities taking place.
“Pastoralists have relied mostly ranch during rainy season because there is no tsetse flies and free from flood water but we are not allowed to graze our animals now. The land is lying idle and we want it to be given back to community and there are no major activities taking place,’ he added.
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