Kenya: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has claimed government-sanctioned land grabbing is back and warned the Jubilee Coalition it will use all means to repossess stolen public land.
CORD co-principals, former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula were present during the press conference yesterday at CORD's Secretariat offices at Capitol Hill in Nairobi's Upper Hill.
Government sanctioned
"The menace of land grabbing is back in Kenya and as before, it has full government sanction. The Government has done nothing to conclusively deal with the many land irregularities all over the republic despite continued promise from the Jubilee regime that it has the answer," said Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar in a statement read on behalf of CORD.
CORD criticised what it described as irregular extension of expired land leases and demanded the lease extension given by the National Land Commission (NLC) in Taita-Taveta be revoked.
The opposition coalition insisted the commission should have the moral authority to also revoke titles to land on which Weston Hotel stands.
The opposition claimed that of concern is Jubilee's inability to offer strategies and interventions towards resolving the political, legal and moral questions around land grabbing in Kenya.
They claimed NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri move to extend the leasehold was done without consultations with the locals and termed it 'immoral and unacceptable'.
"We demand the extension of lease to the Kenyatta family be nullified and a proper constitutional process be initiated for the proper disposition of the said land," read the statement.
If the extension is allowed to stand, CORD warned area residents who have been disenfranchised over the years will continue to suffer in their own ancestral land.
Leasehold EXTENSION
Mr Swazuri, however, says the Kenyatta family land lease has not yet expired (see story on page 12).
CORD hinted it will in the coming weeks hold a series of rallies in Taita Taveta to oppose the lease extension and push the Government to rescind the decision, until consultations are held between NLC and the locals.
After public outrage over the Langata Road Primary School playground saga, the opposition chiefs made fresh demands for cancellation of the adjacent Weston Hotel title, claiming the land the facility is sitting on is public space that was grabbed by a senior member of the Jubilee administration.
Weston Hotel is along Langata Road, opposite Wilson Airport and borders Langata Primary School.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join