Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto was on Sunday evening arrested while visiting families evicted from the controversial settlement scheme along West Pokot and Trans-Nzoia counties.
The MP had visited affected families camping at Katikomor market and Katikomor Primary School when he was arrested by Criminal investigation officers from Endebess sub-county.
The MP had visited the families together with journalists, human rights defenders and spent part of the day accessing the plight of the evicted families when the officers pounced on him.
But on his way back the M.P’s car was blocked, ransacked and put under arrest with DCI officers saying they had a warrant of arrest dated back in 2017 for unclear charges. After the arrest, the MP was driven to Endebess police station then to Kitale Police station where he spent the night and expected to be taken to court on charges related to incitement.
More than 500 families have been rendered homeless after the destruction of their homes and property during the eviction under heavy security presence.
In a private and tight operation security officers including Kenya Police,GSU, Astu and provincial administration led the eviction of the from more than 300 hactares of land in the area.
The residents said they have lost property worth millions and wondered why there was no eviction notice prior to the heinous act by the government Police officers overseeing the eviction operations barred media and human rights activists who visited the area to ascertain legality of the matter.
This follows a long protracted land dispute between squatters who were allocated the land by Agricultural Development Authority ADC. Angry residents have now accused the government of using force to evict them from their land despite having several court orders to bar any eviction. The homeless residents have now raised concerns that top government officials from Trans Nzoia were forcing them out of their allotted portions of land with the aim of resettling other people.