Land commission to carry on verifying plot ownership in February
Muslims for Human Rights Director Khelef Khalifah (left) and National Land Commission Chairperson Muhammad Swazuri during a tour of Nyali School following complaints over grabbed land adjacent the school, on January 5, 2016. The National Land Commission will continue to verify plot ownership in Kilifi and Lamu counties. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Public hearings will take place from 9am on February 1 to February 5 at Malindi Red Cross Hall.
The National Land Commission will pick up the activity of substantiating the ownership of plot in Kilifi and Lamu Counties next month.
According to a notice in the dailies on Thursday, the activity will involve public hearings to establish the legality of title deeds.
The plots in question include those held by five salt processing companies in Gongoni in Malindi.
Others are on proposed sites for the Sh1.5 trillion Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor project.
The validation, which was suspended last year, has been necessitated by complaints from the Kilifi County Government, communities and individuals, according to NLC boss Muhammad Swazuri.
Those listed as interested parties include the county government, the Giriama community and the salt firms.
Public hearings will take place from 9am on February 1 to February 5 at Malindi Red Cross Hall.
The more than 180 plots in question are in Chembe Kibabamshe area in Watamu. The plots were left out during the vetting last year.
DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
Every interested party is required to submit five copies of written representation at Ardhi House by January 22.
“The parties will be required to submit original plot allocation and ownership documents during the hearing for verification,” says the notice.
When Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana was Lands Minister years ago, the area was declared “special with unique problems”.
The process, according to the notice, will also be conducted in Nairobi, Kisumu and Machakos on other dates.
Meanwhile, President Kenyatta’s recent issuing of more than 4,000 title deeds to Lamu residents has been praised.
A total of 4,073 title deeds were issued, with Lamu West Sub-County getting 2,004 while 2,069 Lamu East residents benefited.
Nineteen-year-old Subira Bakari was among the beneficiaries. Ms Bakari, from Kiongwe Village in Mpeketoni, got a title deed for her 0.9 hectares.
The 2014 KCSE candidate intends to use the document to get funds to pursue her dream career of accounting.
