AFC seeks Ojaamong's help to recover grabbed land

Prime land in Busia town belonging to the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) has been grabbed, a top official at the agency has said.

AFC Board of Directors' chairman Franklin Bett made the claim on Tuesday when he commissioned the parastatal's latest branch.

“Part of our land has been grabbed. People should respect Government property. We call upon the county government to intervene so that we can get back our land,” said Mr Bett.

He urged Governor Sospeter Ojaamong to intervene and ensure the land's ownership reverted to AFC.

Bett said the new premises had no parking space or space to hold a function. The owners of the adjacent land that AFC is laying claim to have already put up various structures.

Mr Ojaamong said huge chunks of Government land had been grabbed in the county. He cited Bumala open air market, Matayos dispensary and airstrip, and a slaughterhouse in Busia town.

"There are people with title deeds of our sewerage system, which has existed for many years. These are public lands, so we shall repossess them because the law allows us to do so," said Ojaamong.

Last year, members of the county assembly passed a Motion to allow for the audit of all government lands. This followed concerns raised by the ward representatives that large tracts of State land had been illegally acquired by private developers.

Meanwhile, the ward reps have adopted a Motion that will see property owners with over one acre setting aside a portion to plant trees and increase forest cover.