National Land Commission revokes 13 Lamu land title deeds
National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri (left) hands over a report on the controversial parcels of land in Lamu at State House Nairobi on November 10, 2013. The report recommended the revocation if 13 land titles. PHOTO | PSCU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- NLC says only one company will retain its title deed while another will have its title investigated further.
- Six the titles will be regularised while two companies will be expunged from the initial list of 22 companies.
- Investigations carried out by NLC found out that the 13 titles were irregularly issued and would be reverted back to the government.
- President Kenyatta announced that NLC and the Ministry of Lands had agreed to work together.
The National Land Commission (NLC) has revoked 13 title deeds of parcels of land in the controversial 500,000 acres allocated to 22 companies in Lamu County.
In a report released Monday, NLC says only one company will retain its title deed while another will have its title investigated further.
Six the titles will be regularised while two companies will be expunged from the initial list of 22 companies.
“The Witu Conservation Ranch should be expunged from the list as it was found to be a project within Witu Nyongoro Ranch but not a parcel of land,” read the report.
The report containing these findings was presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta by NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri together with Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu at State House Nairobi.
Among the companies whose titles were revoked is Brick Investments and Rusken International Limited.
The Lamu and Tana Sugar Company Limited parcel, NLC recommended, can be used by the county government of Lamu to build a sugar factory or an industrial park.
NLC said in its report that Brick Investments Limited owners had failed to prove that they had land allocated to them in Lamu County.
IRREGULARLY ISSUED
Investigations carried out by NLC found out that the 13 titles were irregularly issued and would be reverted back to the government.
Early August, President Kenyatta had directed Mrs Ngilu to revoke a 500,000-acre title deed allegedly illegally acquired by 22 companies in Lamu.
But the NLC report has reduced the number of titles revoked to 13.
AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER
President Kenyatta also announced that NLC and the Ministry of Lands had agreed to work together.
“As you know, land forms the basis of our economy and, therefore, the overall uncertainty as a result of the internal differences between the National Land Commission and the Ministry of Lands has led to a lot of concern amongst Kenyans.
This, in turn, has also in one way or another impeded our ability to move ahead in terms of our own economic development both growth and the entire agenda that we have for this country,” President Kenyatta said.
He said he will be closely monitoring the relationship between the two as they delivered services to Kenyans.
Deputy President William Ruto said the feuds that nearly stalled activities in the two land entities would be a thing of the past.
“We are pleased to let the country know that there is now an agreement between the ministry and the commission on how these matters will be handled,” Mr Ruto said.
