Matiang'i warns politicians against inciting squatters

The Government has warned politicians who incite locals to invade land belonging to private individuals.

Acting Lands Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said politicians have resorted to populist tendencies, where they incite residents who invade private land, leading to unending court duels.

Mr Matiang'i noted that leaders give wrong information to the Ministry of Lands, which erroneously creates imaginary squatters.

Matiang'i was on a fact-finding mission in Kimagandura, Laikipia North sub-county, where hundreds of squatters have been ordered to vacate private land.

The squatters have for the last one month been living in fear, after the courts issued the order to vacate.

Matiang'i seemed to support the courts when he told the squatters: "As a Government, we will act firmly and indiscriminately. We will not allow politicians to create problems where they do not exist. It is irresponsible that some politicians from this region are describing landowners as foreigners. They are Kenyans."

Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel had referred to some of the private land owners as foreigners.