Criticos land woes deepen as locals, ‘outsiders’ eye piece of vast farm

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

KENYA: Former Taveta MP and assistant minister Basil Criticos is a broken man on the brink of becoming a squatter on a vast swathe of land he once owned.

Hundreds of people have invaded the vast farm after his lease 99-year lease expired despite applying for its renewal.

Following recent invasions of his land in Taita Taveta, Mr Criticos claims he is a victim of racism and incitement by local politicians, while accusing the Government of abandoning him at his hour of need.

Lately, his vast farm has been turned into an epicentre of conflict among squatters who have been scrambling and fighting over land.

On Tuesday, violence erupted between locals and non-locals on the farm where three people were shot with arrows and admitted to Taveta district hospital.

It is alleged locals want ‘outsiders’ out of the farm to pave way for their settlement. The chairman of the area conflict resolution committee Alfred Jurua said some youth were incited to cause violence.

Land leases

He said police were earlier informed of the attack but failed to act. “A farmer had alerted police that a group of 30 armed youth was planning to attack residents but they failed to respond,” claimed Mr Njuruka.

On Wednesday, Taita Taveta County police commander Richard Bitonga warned politicians against inciting residents to invade private properties. The police boss warned anyone found inciting residents would be arrested and prosecuted.

“Squatters should not take advantage of expiring of land leases to invade private properties. They should respect the rule of law,” said Mr Bitonga.

Briefing The Standard on the security situation, the police boss said no suspect had so far been arrested in connection with the attack, which left three people seriously injured.

The victims who were shot with arrows at Machungwani farm belonging to Criticos.

“The suspects are well known. They have been quarrelling with the victims over a portion of land in the disputed farm. They escaped after the attack and police are on hot pursuit for them,” said Bitonga.

He said local leaders would hold a peace meeting today to find a lasting solution to the land dispute.

Bitonga spoke as leaders claimed the violence was politically motivated. It appears the former MP’s tribulations have been compounded by recent remarks by County Governor John Mruttu that the 99-year lease held by the former MP on about 3,000 acres has expired and won’t be renewed.

Mr Mruttu said the lease for the land at Machungwani Farm expired in January and is now State property.

“The former MP cannot justify renewal of the land lease because the land has been idle for years. Renewal will depend on what the owner has done with the land. The National Land Commission (NLC) has warned idle land will not be renewed,” he said.

Late last week NLC chairman Dr Mohammed Swazuri said consideration for renewal will be based on what the land owner has done with it for the past 99 years adding title holders may apply to the commission for renewal of leases.

A 2009 ground report compiled by Taveta Land Adjudication and Settlement Officer Ngugi Maina indicates the parcels of land are jointly registered under the names of Mama Ngina Kenyatta and Criticos.

The two parcels have been charged to the Agricultural Finance Corporation for a loan amounting to Sh14 million taken by Criticos in 1990 which was yet to be serviced.

Criticos said he has applied to the NLC for a renewal of the lease and accused leaders led by Mruttu of inciting residents to grab his property. “The governor has no powers to extend land leases and should keep off the matter,” he said adding the invasions escalated after Mruttu’s recent speeches.

About 5,000 squatters have lived on this property as illegal settlers, according to reports. “I am one of the major producers of bananas and oranges and the governor should stop misleading residents that the land has been lying idle,” added Criticos.

His tribulations started when he returned home from exile and found his 40,000 acre farm invaded by squatters including those from as far as Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.