Team seeks data on Lamu plot owners

The land commission Thursday demanded more information from companies that acquired plots in Lamu after learning that some changed hands for investment along the port project corridor.

This came after information from the Registrar of Companies showed that names of some directors listed in some of the firms did not match those registered the entities.

But a number of the ranch owners took issue with the government for creating the impression that all the firms named in the acquisition of land in Lamu had been allocated the parcels illegally.

Seven companies, among the 22 whose titles have been questioned appeared before the commission Thursday to explain how they were allocated the land.

The were Lamu Investment, Amu Ranch Cooperative Society, Maalim Ranch, Brick Investments, Dynamic Trading, Savanah Fresh Fruits Exporters and Lamu and Tana Sugar.

MOHAMMED ABDI MAALIM

Maalim Ranch director Mohamed Abdi Maalim said they were unfairly classified as people who acquired the land fraudulently and asked the commission to clear their name.

Amu Ranch said their title was valid after going through all the procedures but plans to fully exploit the land had been hampered by bandit attacks and squatters cultivating sections of the ranch.

The land commission demanded more information on the status of Msango villagers who have also come to claim they were the original landowners and were not involved in the creation of Amu Ranch.

The team asked the directors to present sworn affidavits of Msango on their involvement as members of the cooperative and also provide communication detailing change of user from ranch to a conservancy.

Commissioners in the panel were vice-chairwoman Abigael Mbagaya, Silas Kinoti, Rose Musyoka, Emma Njogu and T. Konyimbih.