Put beacons before issuing title deeds on disputed Waitiki farm, team told

Mombasa County’s Land, Planning and Housing executive Anthony Njaramba wants the issuing of title deeds on the controversial Waitiki Farm in Likoni suspended until beacons are erected.

Mr Njaramba told the presidential team that is surveying the 930-acre land that occupiers do not understand the digital mapping it says it is doing and beacons must be put up to forestall disputes.

“I see problems arising among occupiers in future if the team from Nairobi continues issuing titles without physical beacons,” Mr Njaramba said.

He cited Mwakirunge and Ziwa la Ng’ombe settlements where people have been given ‘paper’ titles even though actual land allocation is in dispute.

However, Land, Housing and Urban Development deputy director of surveys Mwendwa Mwenga dismissed Mr Njaramba’s fears saying the Waitiki case is a special one because the land has already been occupied.

“Beacons would have been an issue if the land was unoccupied. But here, we are dealing with owners who already know their boundaries. That’s why we have relied on the information they have given us to plan, survey and ultimately issue them with titles,” said Mr Mwenga.

PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION

Other than showing boundaries of their land, those claiming the land were also required to produce national identity cards, sale agreements, witnesses and other documents proving ownership in the informal settlement.

However, Mr Mwenga said they can still erect beacons if they so wish now that the team has the original layout of the farm following their survey and mapping.

“Unlike in other cases, this land was occupied on the basis of individual claims, the owners well aware of their boundaries and their claims have been supported by the village elders,” he said.

He added: “Disputes, in case they arise, can easily be resolved by the elders and the Mombasa land registrar.”

Meanwhile, Waitiki Farm Project coordinators Mr Joseph Kanyiri has called on the agitated occupants to be patient while their cases are handled.

“While the technical team from Nairobi has completed site plans and survey, there is still a lot that needs to be done before the issuance of title deeds,” he added.

The occupants met last Sunday to push the team to give them titles.

WARNED OF CON MEN

Mr Kanyiri also warned prospective land buyers against people he said are con men pretending to sell land on the farm.

“A lady came here crying at the weekend after losing Sh400,000 but we could not assist her. The parcel of land she had bought does not exist.

“That is why we are advising the public report to the police anyone pretending to sell land on this farm,” Mr Kanyiri said.

Some 25 occupants of land on the farm in Block MN 528 and Block MZA 040 marched to the Nation bureau office in Mombasa on Wednesday to complain over the pace of the exercise.

Four elders who led the march — Mr Patrick Nduva, Mr Moses Mwanzia, Mr Johnston Muliza and Mr Cleophas Mbalo — want the team to expedite the survey and issue them with titles.

The owner of the farm, Mr Evanson Waitiki, has in the past expressed fears of losing his expansive land to “illegal squatters”.

He wants the National Land Commission to involve him in the identification of ‘genuine’ squatters and surveying.