Lands agency to settle 1,500 squatters in Lugari soon
What you need to know:
- Elsewhere, Dr Swazuri wants squatters living on Benmoi Farm in Moiben Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, to obey a court ruling requiring them to move out.
- Dr Swazuri, who addressed locals on Sunday, said the commission will soon start the process of identifying genuine squatters who will benefit from the plan.
- He noted that the squatters have been living in the area since 1992, when President Daniel arap Moi ordered that 9, 000 acres be hived from the Mautuma/Turbo forest for their settlement.
The National Land Commission (NLC) is in the process of settling some 1,500 squatters in Lugari, Kakamega County.
Chairman Muhammad Swazuri said the agency is in talks with locals to acquire 3,000 acres of land for the resettlement.
Dr Swazuri, who addressed locals on Sunday, said the commission will soon start the process of identifying genuine squatters who will benefit from the plan.
“Surveying and planning of the settlement scheme has been prioritised. Once we are done with that, beneficiaries will receive letters of allotment and later the title deeds,” said Dr Swazuri, who was flanked by Lugari MP Ayub Savula.
He noted that the squatters have been living in the area since 1992, when President Daniel arap Moi ordered that 9, 000 acres be hived from the Mautuma/Turbo forest for their settlement. However, the squatters were only settled on the 3, 000 acres.
“The idea was that each gets five acres but others ended up getting more through dubious means. Some were settled in swampy and rocky places, not suitable for human settlement,” Dr Swazuri said.
He said the commission is awaiting a Cabinet approval for degazettement of the land in question before it allocates it afresh.
Meanwhile, Dr Swazuri said his commission would investigate cases of alleged land grabbing in the area and prosecute culprits.
“There are claims an influential person has grabbed 100 acres in Turbo forest. If it is true, then we shall repossess the land,” he said.
Elsewhere, Dr Swazuri wants squatters living on Benmoi Farm in Moiben Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, to obey a court ruling requiring them to move out.
“The directive of the court must be respected for there to be peaceful coexistence,” said Dr Swazuri, who toured the farm on Sunday.
“Police officers who(m) the squatters confronted were only implementing a court directive, which the latter must respect or challenge it through legal institutions and not by destroying property.”
Early this month, the High Court in Eldoret dismissed a petition the squatters had filed against two companies claiming ownership of the 3,000-acre land in Moiben.
Over 300 squatters who claim they have lived on the farm since 1957 engaged police and residents in running battles when the officers came to effect eviction orders.
