Form land board, civil societies tell Ranguma

A survey by civil societies has unearthed rampant grabbing of public land in Kisumu County.

This is despite a ban on land transfer imposed by Governor Jack Ranguma two years ago.

A report released by Mazingira Institute, Malaika Foundation and Community Initiative Action Group Kenya indicate that over 500 cases of land grabbing have been reported since 2013.

The report further states the grabbing has moved to private parcels as opposed to the previous cases where only public land was being illegally acquired.

Land grabbing

Addressing community groups involved in the fight against land grabbing over the weekend, the lobby groups cited Nyalenda, Kondele, Kanyakwar, Kolwa and Kajulu as the most affected areas.

The societies now want the county government to immediately appoint lands board to handle matters emanating from land grabbing.

They said lack of a board had created a safe haven for grabbers.

Malaika Foundation Trust Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ogema said most of the land complaints were being channeled to the chiefs, police and leaders, who in most cases don’t act.

In a joint press statement read to the media by Mr Ogema, the civil societies threatened to take action against the developers who have exposed ‘high appetite’ for land.

“We suspect that highly connected political players, especially senior county officials, are directly or indirectly involved in the scum,” he said.

He added; “It is disappointing to note that despite the law being in place, the National Land Commission and Kisumu County government have largely failed to address legitimate demands of the people of Nyalenda, Kondele, Kanyakwar, Kosele, Kolwa, Kajulu among others in relation to land and agrarian reforms.”

Immediately after resuming office Mr Ranguma banned the transfer of county land leased to investors; a situation he said was giving room for grabbing and sale of public land.

The directive followed a survey by the land’s department, which indicated that over 3,000 acres had been grabbed during the reigns of the local authorities.