Deputy President William Ruto's farm has been cited as one of the threats to the survival of Lake Jipe in Taita Taveta County, following the decision by the management to block vital canals that feed the lake.
Water Resources Management Authority (Warma) officials were forced to arbitrate between the community and Kisima farm in Jipe after farmers and fishermen complained over dwindling water levels in the lake.
This is not the first time the manager is at loggerheads with the community. In 2019, Mr Dempers was accused of storming a local mosque armed with a rifle and stopped early morning prayers. He was also accused of harassing a family during a burial. He claimed they were making noise with a public address system. Last year, the manager was accused of diverting water from pipes and then denying county government officials access to fix the problem. Residents in Jipe had to walk long distances in search of water.
A farmer, Mr Lawrent Kipesha said the blocking of Sombasomba canal had occasioned him huge losses due to flooding. Before 2019, he said, he made huge profits from his farm, which had banana and coconut trees. He would sell the produce at markets in Mombasa and Nairobi.
You've only heard one side of the story. So take a chill pill. Meanwhile, Opoda farm in bondo sit on grabbed community land meant for airport. Raila grabbed dominion farms from mzungu.
Cleansing Ruto! pic.twitter.com/CUhzZ4kaMa
— Gado Cartoons (@iGaddo) May 10, 2021
Mobutu should cease grabbing Taita Taveta communal lands, let him grab from his fellow Kipsigis if he has such insatiable lust for land. That is why Raila is loved by the masses in the rest of Kenya he does not grab their lands.Cleansing Ruto! pic.twitter.com/CUhzZ4kaMa
— Gado Cartoons (@iGaddo) May 10, 2021