By Tobias Chanji
KWALE; KENYA: A firm associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s uncle, Paul Muhoho, has started negotiations to end a drawn-out tussle with squatters over the ownership of a piece of land in Kwale.
The company, Msambweni Development Company, is entangled in a tussle with squatters over the ownership of the 2, 900 acres of land in Gazi area of Msambweni. The squatters have refused to vacate the land insisting that it belonged to their ancestors. The standoff has already led to the arrest of 21 people who are currently facing charges of forging title deeds.
Last week, Muhoho testified before Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Mr Richard Odenyo against the 21 squatters, who have denied the charges. Over 100 squatters invaded the land in question in 1988 leading to the arrest of the 21 squatters who are currently facing charges of forging title deeds. The 21 are alleged to have used the titles to sell the land to the third parties. The squatters had refused to vacate insisting the disputed land was their ancestral land.
But the National Land Commission chairman Dr Mohamed Swazuri has brought together the warring parties to solve the long-standing dispute. The first negotiation which was held at Msambweni was attended by Muhoho and Msambweni Development Company Secretary JM Njoya and area MP Sulieman Dori. The talks were also attended by Kwale County Commissioner Mr Evans Achoki and his deputy Benjamin Laparmorijo.
