Bid to block Mutua land offer
What you need to know:
- Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has differed with Dr Mutua’s development plans, arguing that investors should buy land instead of getting it for free out of the 2,000 acre county land.
- According to the Cabinet secretary, there are two land parcels, one of which the Machakos government owns and the other belonging to the veterinary department.
The Agriculture ministry has vowed to take stern action against the Machakos Governor if he carries on with construction on “restricted land”.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua was encroaching on land intended for the Veterinary Department and the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei told journalists at Kilimo House Thursday.
“He has gone ahead and built a borehole, a park and a house on this land,” said Mr Koskei, cautioning that if the governor did not stop the construction, he would take action to address the issue.
According to the Cabinet secretary, there are two land parcels, one of which the Machakos government owns and the other belonging to the veterinary department.
The ministry does not currently have the papers to prove this ownership but as Mr Koskei noted, “the ministry is processing the necessary documents for the land”.
According to Business Daily, Dr Mutua will host President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday to officially launch the Machakos City Project.
Separately, former Livestock minister Joseph Munyao called on President, the national government and all Kamba leaders to support Dr Mutua’s development efforts.
Mr Munyao added: “We don’t want leaders to criticise Dr Mutua’s efforts as he is doing a wonderful job.”
Through Dr Mutua, Mr Munyao said investors from all over the world were ready to troop to Machakos county — a venture that will create jobs and produce goods for the whole nation.
But Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has differed with Dr Mutua’s development plans, arguing that investors should buy land instead of getting it for free out of the 2,000 acre county land.
He said any free land in Machakos should be given to squatters first.
The parliamentary committee on Agriculture on Wednesday visited the site where Machakos governor has earmarked for building a new city for investment and said the project should not be stopped.
The committee, comprising seven MPs led by their chairman, Mr Adan Mohammed Noor, toured the site which ignited controversy after Mr Koskei said the project should not be undertaken as the land belonged to his ministry.
But after touring the site yesterday, the committee said the differences should not be used to hinder a project whose benefit to the county could not be underestimated.
