Kilifi leaders want NLC disbanded over persistent land disputes

Kilifi leaders have called for the disbandment of the National Land Commission (NLC), accusing it of failing to tackle land problems in the coastal region.

This came even as some of the leaders asked the government to revert the Mazrui family land to the community.

NO ZEAL

Led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, the leaders said NLC has become toothless and needs to be replaced.

Addressing residents at Karisa Maitha Grounds, Mr Kingi accused the commission of lacking the zeal to solve land disputes despite having been given powers by the Constitution.

“One of the reasons Coast advocated and voted for the 2010 Constitution was that it had a clause dedicated to solving land disputes. We thought if that was possible through the lands commission, then why not vote for it?  But since its term began, there is nothing that the NLC team can pride itself on doing to solve land problems,” said Mr Kingi.

Mr Kingi said the county had laid before the commission dozens of cases, among them the disputed 900-acre Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC Kisiwani) land in Magarini, over which more than 40 residents and an MCA were recently arrested for invading it.

The governor said if the commission had been serious since members took office in 2012, most of the land cases would have been solved.

He noted that cases of land invasion persist in the region.

“I think it’s high time we re-look into the fate and importance of NLC if we want to tackle the land issue,” said the governor.

Mr Kingi noted that land is still an emotive issue in Coast, adding that it’s shrouded in corruption.

OVERHAUL

Kilifi County Commissioner Magu Mutundika said NLC needs to be overhauled to overcome land injustices.

“NLC was given powers to address land grievances. If the push for referendum is achieved, this is one issue that the people of Kilifi must consider,” said Mr Mutundika

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya said land rights for Coast residents have been evasive since independence and lay the blame solely on absentee landlords.

Mr Baya noted that absentee landlords still own huge tracts of lands. He urged the government to reverts the land to the community.

“Our fight for land will not stop until our people get justice. If some of the rights  we fought for during independence was land, why are our people still squatters in their own land? Posed Mr Baya.

“In Kilifi North, 75 per cent of the land is owned by the Mazrui family. We now want it to become communal land,” he added.

Mr Baya, who is a member of the National Assembly’s Lands Committee, accused  former lands officials and elite commissioners of the defunct provincial administration of having connived with tycoons to enrich themselves through lands deals. He cited Kijipwa scheme and the infamous Chembe Kibabamche land scheme in Kilifi North.

“We know the lands officials who were involved, and we want the government to arrest them. This will end impunity and land theft,” said Mr Baya. 

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo threatened to name and shame prominent national politicians who reportedly grabbed portions of the 900-acre ADC land.

“We have been reduced to beggars asking to be given our own land. I shall lay it all bare on the floor of the Senate,” said Mr Madzayo.