Kenya Kwanza presidential aspirant William Ruto has made a significant promise to the people of Narok County. While campaigning across the region on Saturday, May 28th, 2022, the Deputy President announced that, if elected, his government would acquire the 75,000-acre Kedong Ranch and Rose farm in Narok County.
The ranch has been at the center of a long-standing land dispute between the local Maasai community and the owners of Kedong Firm Ltd., a company with 23 owners, including some members of the Kenyatta family.
According to Ruto, the land dispute has dragged on for too long, and he is prepared to resolve it once and for all upon assuming power. He stated, “The issue that is remaining is the Rose Farm and Kedong Ranch. We need to finish it the way we solved the Mau land issue so that the locals can be given the land’s ownership and the Government will pay,”
Notably, Ruto’s sentiments were echoed by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Garissa Town MP Aden Duale. Duale praised Ruto for offering a practical solution to the land dispute, saying, “The solution to the land question since independence – will be solved by a Kenya Kwanza Government under the leadership of William Samoei Ruto,”
On the other hand, Amason Kingi criticized Azimio la Umoja, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for their approach to land-related issues. He stated, “If Ruto can give a solution on land in the Coast, can he be defeated in Kedong? When you tell Azimio you have land problems, they only have one solution. They will tell you that they will take one of you and make them a Cabinet Secretary of Lands,”
