Military claims land disputed by Kenyatta University, squatters

Kenya: A fresh twist has emerged in the land row pitting Kenyatta University (KU) and squatters, after the military claimed ownership of part of the land.

It emerged yesterday that the the Department of Defence (DoD) claims a stake in the 100-acre piece of land that  KU and Kamae squatters are tussling over. KU is seeking to evict the squatters to construct a modern hospital.

DoD says 60 of the 100 acres belong to them.

National Land Commission Chief Executive Officer Tom Chavangi yesterday told MPs that records available indicate that 60 acres of the disputed land belong to Kahawa Barracks.

Mr Chavangi and Lands Principal Secretary Mariam El Maawy told the National Assembly Committee on Lands that the squatters who are claiming 70 acres had been given 30 acres but rejected them, saying they will not take anything less.

"From the records, what we see is that DoD is claiming 60 acres and has some structures in this land," Chavangi said adding that the entire land where KU is situated once belonged to the military before it was excised and the university given the plot.

But the squatters say President Daniel arap Moi gave them the land through an executive order in the 1980s, which was communicated to them by the provincial administration.

NGILU CONTRADICTED

Meanwhile, Lands Principal Secretary Mariamu el Maawy yesterday contradicted her Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu over the ownership of a Sh800 million disputed land near State House, Nairobi.

The PS told MPs that according to their documents, the public does not own that land. She said the records show that the plot measuring 2.14 acres belonged to the defunct City Council of Nairobi but was allocated to private developers in the 1990s.

This contradicts Ngilu's position who led a team of government officers to the plot and ordered a wall erected on it brought down.

Ngilu then instructed the erection of two signposts; one indicating the land is public and another one indicating the plot is owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Maawy said they do not have any record to show that the land is public.

"Records indicate that LR 209/5581 was formerly owned by the City Council of Nairobi for a term of 99 years beginning February 1, 1955 and was set aside for a children's playground. The city council relinquished its interest by way of transfer to Bonventure Tours and Traveller Ltd," she said.

The PS added: "There was another of the same plot belonging to Julius K Kitur and partners. The records are not very clear. The land was then sub-divided in 1996 into four portions and allocated to Rose Chebet & Robert Gichura, Linrose investments, Interfarm Ltd and Archman Holdings."

But Lands Committee Chairman Alex Muiru retorted: "Don't you think this is a contradiction to your minister's declaration before the full glare of cameras that the land is public, ordered the demolition of the existing wall and erected the signposts?"