Panic has gripped more than 10,000 residents of Maji Ya Chumvi sub-location in Kinango after Parliament recommended recall of 200 title deeds.
The title deeds have been recalled following a controversy on the adjudication process that led to their issuance.
The residents have accused Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari and Lands Ministry Chief Administrative Officer Gideon Mung’aro of being behind their woes, claims denied by both.
Elders, led by the Maji Ya Chumvi land committee chairman Dzomo Magongo, claimed that the title deeds were processed in Nairobi and sent to the county headquarters for distribution, but were recalled after Mr Tayari petitioned Parliament.
“I took part in the adjudication process in 2014 and a certificate of conformity was issued to ascertain successful completion of the exercise. Everything went on well, and I wonder why the title deeds were recalled,” said Mr Magongo.
Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council national chairman Juma Ngao also condemned the recall of the title deeds and called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to intervene, pointing an accusing finger at Tayari and Mr Mung’aro.
Tayari and Mung’aro have denied the elders' claims.
The MP said he petitioned Parliament after realising a private company was allocated land meant for squatters, insisting that he acted to ensure the squatters did not get a raw deal.
“These are blanket allegations that have no basis. They should not politicise an issue that I did in good faith,” said Tayari.
“I sought to know how a company benefited from land meant for squatters. It is wrong for a company to own land in such an area. It is for that reason that I petitioned Parliament to intervene and ensure the exercise is done afresh,” said Tayari.
Mung’aro confirmed that the titles were recalled from after their issuance was stopped.
“We had started plans to issue the title deeds when the Lands Cabinet Secretary Faridah Karoney was summoned by Parliament and we had to call off the exercise,” he said.
He said the ministry was awaiting a decision by Parliament before acting on the title deeds.
