Senator says ‘No’ to Mutua free land offer
What you need to know:
- Mr Muthama said there was no partnership between Machakos and the investors on how the county would benefit once the land has been issued to them.
A bid by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua to lure investors Wednesday suffered a set back when a senator objected to businesses getting free land.
Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama differed with the governor’s development model, saying, the investors should be encouraged to buy land instead of getting it from the 2,200-acres set aside by Dr Mutua.
No free land
“There is no free land that is going to be given out in Machakos County. Any available land should be for future expansion of existing institutions and construction of new ones,” he said.
The senator, who was with Matungulu MP Stephen Mule and East African Legislative Assembly member Peter Mathuki, said any free land in the county should be given to squatters first and not investors.
He said they had gone to court to see if the National Land Commission can allow a governor to distribute public land without wide consultations.
Mr Muthama said there was no partnership between Machakos and the investors on how the county would benefit once the land has been issued to them.
In an advertisement in the local dailies yesterday, Dr Mutua demonstrated that part of the land earmarked for investors did not belong to the Ministry of Agriculture, saying, the ministry’s 1,400 acres were intact.
But Mr Muthama said the governor had encroached on the land, prompting the ministry to re-demarcate its plot.
Put on hold
Mr Mule said they were not opposed to development at the county, but want everything done legally.
They said the Machakos City and Investment Programme that President Kenyatta was to preside over on Friday, should be put on hold until the matter is addressed.
“The National Land Commission should move fast and regularise land issues in accordance with constitutional requirements” Mr Mathuki said.
