Ngilu officially launches Lamu County land survey
Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu addressing Lamu residents at the Mkunguni Square on Sunday August 10, 2014. She introduced 72 land surveyors who will conduct land survey in 13 areas in Lamu County. PHOTO | ATHMAN OMAR
What you need to know:
- 72 surveying officers were introduced to the public.
- Mrs Ngilu said her ministry was able to come up with a proper plan on how the Lamu land survey was going to be conducted.
- The minister mentioned 13 areas in the County which will be surveyed.
- Lamu Governor Issa Timamy asked the government to ensure the law was followed in solving the issue.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu on Sunday officially launched land survey in Lamu County.
72 surveying officers, led by the Director of Survey Kenya Mr Sesare Baria, were introduced to the public.
Mrs Ngilu urged them to cooperate with the county government in ensuring the exercise was a success.
Addressing residents at the Mkunguni Square during the launch of the exercise, Mrs Ngilu said in partnership with the county government, her ministry was able to come up with a proper plan on how the Lamu land survey was going to be conducted.
Mrs Ngilu said she was aware that most land in the county was in the hands of tycoons instead of the indigenous people.
She added that the government was making all efforts to ensure land issues in Lamu are solved and all grabbed land is returned to the owners.
13 SURVEY AREAS
The minister mentioned 13 areas in the County which will be surveyed.
These include Mkunumbi, Ndambwe, Mapenya, Mokowe, Koreni, Kibirikani, Kiongwe Town, Swahili Scheme, Mkokoni, Mpeketoni Township, Kizingitini, Kitau and Pate Island.
Mrs Ngilu said the survey will be conducted in a fair manner and promised to issue about 100,000 titles to the residents before October 2014.
She also revealed that a land audit report in all the six Coast counties had already been handed over to the President after the completion of inspection of land reports last week.
She said the audit report had given insight into who owns what land in Lamu and how the land was acquired.
“I take this opportunity to introduce to you my team of 72 surveyors who will carry out the exercise with effect as from Monday.
“I am confident that the exercise will be conducted well. They will follow all guidelines.
“I will also ensure they coordinate with the county government so as to do a good job. I now officially launch the land survey in Lamu,” said Mrs Ngilu.
THANKED GOVERNMENT
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy thanked the government for its decision to ensure land issues in Lamu are resolved.
He asked the government to ensure the law was followed in solving the issue.
“I am happy that the government has realised what is happening in Lamu. The land issue is a major challenge and my greatest wish is to see Lamu people are given back their land and titles,” said Dr Timamy.
He openly accused the administrators in the county for perpetrating land woes by involving themselves in illegal land-related practices.
“DOs and chiefs are the sources of all these land problems in this county. They fully participate in dividing and distributing land and they know very well that the Constitution does not allow. We will find and prosecute you,” said Dr Timamy.
Also present at the launch were Tana River Governor Hussein Dado, Lands Permanent Secretary Mariam El Maawy, Deputy Governor Eric Mugo, Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa and his East Counterpart, Ali Athman Sharif, and several Members of the Lamu County Assembly.
