Taita Taveta squatters to get title deeds

More than 3,000 Singillia and Majengo squatters in Taita Taveta will be resettled after a survey report on the controversial Teita Sisal Estate is produced, Governor John Mruttu has said.

The county boss said discussions on how to settle the squatters are on course and that the resettlement exercise would be done fairly after the survey report is produced.

Speaking to Mwatate residents Thursday, the governor said they were waiting for the survey report before the resettlement process begins.

“I am in talks with the area MP Andrew Mwadime so that he can push for the quick review of the survey report which is still in parliament,” he said.

Mr Mruttu assured the residents that after the report is produced, part of the 35,000 acres plot occupied by the squatters will be subdivided equally and fairly.

The Ministry of Lands and Urban Development had conducted a survey on the sisal estate to determine its total acreage after endless conflict emerged between the squatters and the investor.

The Parliamentary Committee on Land also visited the area last year where they met with the local community and leaders to see ways of resolving the dispute.

The governor said that his administration is engaging with the investor, Philip Kerriazy, to ensure that the outcome of the survey report will not interfere with the resettlement process.

“Even if the survey report turns out that the area occupied by squatters fall under the estate, we had agreed with the investor that he will give that part for free to facilitate your resettlement,” he said  

Mr Mruttu allayed fears that the community may lose its land should the survey report fail to favour them, saying he is engaging in fruitful discussion with the investor to ensure the dispute is resolved amicably.

“We mustn’t use money to get the land even if the report turns out the other way, at times we can use negotiations to get what we want for our community, but I want to assure you that the report is ready and when it is released from the parliament every squatter will be given his or her share,” he said

“Nothing has changed since our previous discussion with the investor where it was agreed that some 200 acres of the land will be used to resettle squatters,” added the governor.

Following the conflict between the squatters and the investor, Governor Mruttu and the estate manager last year signed an agreement which will see the company relinquish part of its land for resettlement.

The governor said the agreement signed was a right step towards ending landlessness in the county.

The community accuse the investor of encroaching onto their ancestral land, where they claimed to have lived for more than 100 years.

The investor is alleged to have locked out the community from accessing the land for development projects including rehabilitation of their houses.

The governor at the same time asked residents with allotment letters approved by the local authorities between 1963 and 2013 to submit them for regulation and transformation into tittle deeds.