Lamu governor, Swazuri disagree over plan to settle squatters
Lamu County Governor Issa Timamy. He has opposed a plan by the National Land Commission to settle squatter's on the Manda Settlement Scheme in Lamu. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The plan was launched last Friday by National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri.
Governor Timamy told the Nation on Wednesday that the county had started talks with the land team over the matter and that they were yet to strike a consensus.
The county government’s position is that as many squatters as possible should be settled on the scheme.
The Lamu County government has refused to recognise a recently rolled out programme to settle squatters on the controversial Manda Settlement Scheme.
The plan was launched last Friday by National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri.
Governor Issa Timamy told the Nation on Wednesday that the county had started talks with the land team over the matter and that they were yet to strike a consensus.
Prof Swazuri had announced that only 375 individuals would get land in the 4,000-acre scheme. The launch was attended by Deputy Governor Eric Mugo.
In a telephone interview, Mr Timamy said they were yet to strike a deal with the commission on the matter and therefore, would not recognise the land as currently constituted.
The county government’s position is that as many squatters as possible should be settled on the scheme and the stand would remain until an agreement is reached with the commission and other county leaders as well as the affected people.
'NLC INTERFERENCE'
According to the governor, the county had already put in place to settle the squatters “before the commission interfered”.
“As county the government, which is the land’s trustee, we had planned to ensure people get at least a quarter of an acre at Manda so that as many squatters as possible are resettled. We had also planned to establish townships within Manda, set enough land for our airport, roads and also industrial and commercial zones,” he said.
The governor is opposed to the commission declaring the entire land a settlement scheme without consulting the county’s leadership.
“The Constitution gives powers to the county government to decide on matters land. I have already met with Mr Swazuri. We have talked and so far I expect a long-lasting solution will be arrived at soon,” he said.
Contacted Prof Swazuri said they had taken the move following a court order authorising them to proceed with the resettlement.
He, however, said they were yet to hold talks with the county government, together with the scheme’s beneficiaries concerning the exact acreage to be allocated to each person.
Prof Swazuri insisted that Manda was officially listed and that his team would only recognise the 375 individuals resettled on the scheme by the commission.
