Swazuri says agency will audit land grabs

The National Land Commission will audit public utilities across the country that have been grabbed.

NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri yesterday said the audit will be done by county land management boards.

“Governors have been complaining that they have no land for projects. Anybody who has taken over schools, playgrounds, markets among other public land will not be tolerated,” Dr Swazuri said.

He was speaking in Nairobi during a three-day workshop for county land management boards’ secretaries and chairpersons.

He said the commission would put caveat on pieces whose leases had expired to protect them from grabbers.

The NLC boss said Nairobi, Rift Valley and Mombasa were the most affected regions. He added that some people were using unorthodox means to renew leases.

Dr Swazuri asked the boards to solve land disputes in their jurisdiction, saying that such decisions would reduce disputes.

Dr Swazuri said the NLC would enable the boards to work effectively, noting that a limited budget had been its main undoing.

“As land management boards, you are supposed to serve the people. There is no money but we must work very hard. Those who saw this an opportunity or a well-paying job will be disappointed,” he said.

He called on the National Assembly to speed up the passing of crucial land Bills to enable the commission discharge its functions effectively.

Dr Swazuri said the Community Land Bill, Historical Land Injustices Bill, Physical and Urban Planning Bill, among others were pending despite there being a timeframe for their readiness.

“We fear that this delay could affect the reforms we are carrying out,” he said.

He, however, said the NLC was opposed to amendments that were aimed at maiming it.

He said payment for those affected by the Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor would be complete in two weeks.