Dispute over plan to revoke Lamu titles
What you need to know:
- Compensate the owners of 117 land parcels, demands former lawmaker.
- Sand dunes main water source.
A crisis is looming over a plan to revoke 117 title deeds at the Shella-Kipungani sand dunes water catchment area.
During Catchment Rehabilitation Day celebrations in the county a week ago, National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri said title deeds for land in the catchment area acquired illegally would be cancelled.
He added that another 35 parcels of land surrounding the area were under investigation.
His sentiments elicited swift reactions.
Former Lamu West MP Fahim Yasin Twaha said owners of the targeted parcels of land must be compensated.
Mr Twaha, who was speaking on Faza Island in Lamu East Sub-County, said people whose land was taken for the construction of the Lamu port were compensated and the same should apply to those in Shella-Kipungani.
“Those at the Lapsset project land were compensated even though they did not have titles and had not built anything. Here, people have documents and have put up houses and tourist hotels on their land. We will not allow eviction without compensation,” the former three-time MP said.
He said a 200-acre piece had been set aside for the catchment area and the title deed handed to the defunct Lamu County Council.
DANGEROUS STATEMENTS
At the same time, Mr Twaha said Governor Issa Timamy’s sentiments on the issue were dangerous.
Mr Timamy recently said those who grabbed land at Shella-Kipungani catchment area should frame their title deeds and hang them in their houses since the documents were useless.
“Land is an emotive issue and it is reckless for a leader to say that,” Mr Twaha said.
He added that the governor’s statement could scare away investors.
Mr Twaha said even the science saying that the sand dunes are water catchment areas was debatable.
