Fahim Twaha set to resettle 5,000 displaced during Shifta War
Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha (in white taqiyah) mingles with squatters at the county's Mokowe headquarters on July 20, 2018. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Governor Fahim Twaha plans to resettle the 5,000 squatters by end of this year.
Lamu County government has said it will resettle at least 5,000 squatters who were displaced from their lands during the 1960s Shift War.
Speaking on Friday while launching the land survey exercise at the Mokowe headquarters, Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha said he plans to issue the squatters with title deeds by the end of this year. Mr Twaha also plans to resettle at least 20,000 families by the end of his term.
Villages to be surveyed for the resettlement programme are: Mwambore on the Kiunga border of Lamu and Somalia, Mvundeni, Shanga-Rubu, Shanga-Ishakani, Mkononi and most parts of Lamu East Sub-County which were hard hit by the Shifta menace.
“My main target is to have as many squatters as possible resettled and issued with title deeds in Lamu. Giving people lands and title deeds will contribute to development,” said Mr Twaha.
UNDERDEVELOPMENT
Mr Twaha said many years of land-related conflict have impoverished the locals but his county government will ensure the disputed are resolved.
Mr Twaha asked residents who were displaced during the Shifta War to return to their lands, but cautioned them against selling it after they are issued with title deeds.
The county boss said he has initiated talks with ranch owners to purchase more land to resettle the remaining squatters.
Mr Twaha said has issued 5,000 title deeds within the 10 months he has been in office.
“People need title deeds in order to develop their lands and lives too,” said Mr Twaha.
Lamu East MP Athman Sharif, who attended the launch, lauded the county government for initiating the resettlement programme.
But Mr Sharif called on the county government to ensure proper identification and verification of the intended beneficiaries.
The MP urged the county to partner with the government to fund the squatters to help them start new lives.
“I am happy that the county government has initiated the plan to survey Mwambore, Shanga-Rubu, Shanga-Ishakani and Mvundeni lands. People no longer live in those areas [because of insecurity]”said Mr Sharif.
