County faults State over exclusion in decision making of land allocation

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho issues school diaries and milk to Mwijabu Primary school pupils in Changamwe, Mombasa, on January 6, 2016. He questioned the way in which the national government handled the controversial Waitiki land issue saying he was not include in the decision-making process. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to issue 5,000 titles to occupiers of the land in the first phase of the project.
  • On Thursday, Governor Joho said the county government was being asked to waive about Sh400m in land rates yet it had not been consulted

Mombasa County has questioned the manner in which the national government has handled the controversial Waitiki land issue with its boss Hassan Joho saying his administration has been kept in the dark in the process leading to issuance of title deeds.

On Thursday, Governor Joho said the county government was being asked to waive about Sh400m in land rates yet it had not been consulted or given information such as how much the national government paid Mr Evanson Waitiki, the owner of the 930acre land he has sold to the government.

“How can we be asked for a waiver yet we have not been involved in the whole process. We are only getting information from unreliable sources to the effect that Waitiki was paid. If there was money to pay him, then why should there not be money to pay what belongs to the county. There is no full disclosure,’’ the governor said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to give out 5,000 titles deeds to occupiers of the land in the first phase of the project, on Saturday.

The Governor said the only time government officials spoke to him was on Tuesday evening when Land, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri visited his office after they got “a public backlash’’ at Likoni, when they announced that occupiers of the land will have to pay Sh184,000 in rates to the national government.

“Kaimenyi and Swazuri came to my office at about 5pm after they realised they were facing a challenge,’’ Mr Joho told the Nation.

Mr Joho spoke in reference to the public meeting at CDF offices in Likoni where Mr Joseph Kanyiri, the coordinator of Waitiki Farm Squatter Settlement Program, announced for the first time that each occupier would be required to pay the money -- which will be spread out three years.

But his announcement was met with hostility from the beneficiaries and local politicians led by County MP Mishi Mboko.

Mr Joho asked how the money that will be raised from the occupiers will be utilised.

“Somebody has to formally give us an explanation. This matter has been mishandled and all we want is for the issues to be sorted out properly and through consensus for the benefit of our people,’’ he said.