Agency to help retrieve grabbed land

National Land Commission Chairman Dr Mohammed Swazuri has said County governments will be assisted to reclaim grabbed plots or to acquire unutilised government land for expansion. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Dr Swazuri promised to talk to the Kenya Forest Service and the railways and ask them to surrender part of their land to the county government.
• The NLC boss, who was addressing a public forum at Kitale showground, said most land in towns was dished out by local government officials taking advantage of the fact that such property had no title deeds.

 

By PHILIP BWAYO
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County governments will be assisted to reclaim grabbed plots or to acquire unutilised government land for expansion.

“We are investigating individuals who own the said land and will demand documents to show how they acquired it,” National Lands Commission (NLC) chairman Mohammed Swazuri said in Trans Nzoia on Thursday.

Dr Swazuri said County Governments have been appealing to his team to arbitrate on land matters and this was hampering development plans.

The NLC boss, who was addressing a public forum at Kitale showground, said most land in towns was dished out by local government officials taking advantage of the fact that such property had no title deeds.

“Most county governments have a problem expanding their towns as land initially set aside for this purpose was given away by the now defunct municipal and county councils,” he said.

Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba complained of the shortage of space for expansion of towns in the region, noting that Kitale Town was the most affected.

“Half the town is forest while some of its land was grabbed with the rest belonging to the railways and lying idle. We want you to help us get part of the land for expansion,” Mr Khaemba told the NLC chairman.

The county boss also said land belonging to the Kitale prison annex should be surrendered to expand the bus park that was initially five acres but has shrunk to about an acre.

Dr Swazuri promised to talk to the Kenya Forest Service and the railways and ask them to surrender part of their land to the county government.

He said they would, however, need to be compensated with alternative land.

“We are ready to start negotiations. All we need is your integrated town plan and assurance that you have alternative land to compensate them,” he said.

The commission also promised to investigate the emotive Chepchoina settlement scheme on the border of Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties to ascertain claims of fraudulent allocations in phase two.