Ward reps pass motion to repossess unused land

The Elgeyo Marakwet assembly has passed a motion that seeks to compel owners of undeveloped land to utilise it or risk losing it to the county. County Governor Alex Tolgos has been agitating for development of idle land.

The motion, which targets land situated in urban centres and is moved by Select Committee for Public Works, Roads and Transport chairman William Chesingany, also seeks to empower the county administration to repossess undeveloped land.

"Under the defunct county councils, plots within urban centres were allocated to individuals for development but sadly, they have been lying unutilised while the county continues to grapple with a serious land shortage," Mr Chesingany said.

The assembly wants the county executive of Finance and Economic Planning to come up with a clear policy containing specific timelines to be issued to owners of undeveloped land.

They said this would enable the county build houses for its public servants who are currently forced to live outside the region.

"It's embarrassing that land in our urban centres has overgrown grass instead of buildings," he said.