Munya lifts ban on land settlement teams

PHOTO | FILE Meru County Governor Peter Munya addresses journalists in Nyeri on August 31, 2013.The Governor has lifted a ban on land adjudication committees in Meru County.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• In his speech during the swearing in of the Meru County Assembly members, the governor noted that corruption was rife in most of the lands offices and that during his tenure, he would fight the vice which was stifling development in the county.
• Leaders from Isiolo County have laid claim on Chumvi, Chumvi Yare, Tractor, Kiwanja, Kisima, Lowangila and Gambela areas.
• The two counties have been embroiled in a dispute over land since the government announced plans to set up a resort city in the region.

By KENNEDY KIMANTHI
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Meru Governor Peter Munya has lifted a ban that he had imposed on all land adjudication committees in the county.

The committees, Mr Munya said, will now resume their duties until others are formed.

“I am lifting the ban and ordering all the land adjudication committees to continue with their work until we have set up proper mechanisms that will solve all land problems in our county,” said Mr Munya who was addressing residents of Meru town Monday.

He decried the huge backlog of land related cases at the registries which have been occasioned by the disbanding of the land adjudication committees.

In his speech during the swearing in of the Meru County Assembly members in April, the governor noted that corruption was rife in most of the lands offices and that during his tenure, he would fight the vice which was stifling development in the county.

“Land adjudication is a vexing matter that needs attention and must be addressed urgently. I am therefore dissolving all land adjudication committees and instruct the district land adjudication officers to report to my office for further instructions,” Mr Munya said.

MEETINGS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES

The Governor further said a special lands team would hold meetings at the constituency levels to make an inventory of parcels of land.\

“There are dispute resolution mechanisms which are anchored in law and existing land policies to settle conflicts,” he added.

On boundary disputes, Mr Munya said the National Land Commission (NLC) would be visiting the disputed areas to forestall tension in the area.

“The NLC will be visiting parts of Meru that our neighbours Isiolo and Tharaka Nithi have laid claim on. We are optimistic that the commission will provide assistance as the boundaries are clearly demarcated,” he said.

Leaders from Isiolo County have laid claim on Chumvi, Chumvi Yare, Tractor, Kiwanja, Kisima, Lowangila and Gambela areas.

The two counties have been embroiled in a dispute over land since the government announced plans to set up a resort city in the region.

The governor has also called on the national government to deploy security organs in the disputed parts.

He has also blamed leaders from the two counties for inciting their people to invade Meru