Panic as state agency moves to recover grabbed public land

National Land Commission Chairman Prof Mohamed Swazuri is briefed about some of the alleged grabbed public land in Juja. Swazuri revoked title of some of the land which had been earmarked for nursery,polytechnic,church,road reserve among others.He gave those who have the land three months to vacate or be removed forcefully. PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

Thousands of people are likely to lose land as the national government moves to repossess parcels stolen within the county.

The National Land Commission (NLC) has embarked on a week-long review of land in the region during which ownership of at least 2,014 parcels of land will be reviewed.

NLC is holding sessions at Thika Town Hall, where individuals in possession of land said to have been grabbed will be explaining how they acquired it.

NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri subsequently gave those who acquired land fraudulently three months to pull down any structures they may have put up, failing which the commission would do it.

The ultimatum came amid reports that most of the land that has ended up in the hands of individuals had been allocated for public facilities.

The areas worst hit by land grabbing are Juja and Ruiru. In Juja, for instance, land meant for the office of the deputy county commissioner was reportedly grabbed. The suspected land thief even has a title deed for the property.

NLC officials were shocked to learn that land meant for a polytechnic, a church, market, nursery school, public toilet and road reserve had also been snatched.

"This review will ensure that all grabbed land is reverted back to the public," Dr Swazuri said yesterday.

"If our investigations reveal any piece of land was originally meant for public use, then the commission will have no option but to revoke the title deeds."

Swazuri, who addressed residents in Juja town on Tuesday, said the law empowers the commission to revoke the titles for land irregularly acquired.

own land

"There is no way the Government can be evicted from its own land by an individual; that is not going to happen," he said.

Juja MP Francis Waititu said residents had not been able to access Government services because individuals had snatched land meant for public offices.

"We want to thank the commission for its efforts to recover public land," he said.

The MP called for the prosecution of those who stole public land as well as their accomplices in Government.

"It is a pity Government officials are renting buildings because land meant for their offices have been stolen."

In Ruiru, land meant for primary and secondary schools, a nursery school, market, community, cultural and health centres, a library, playing fields and churches, are all in the hands of individuals.

Land meant for Government housing projects in both Thika and Kiambu towns has also been grabbed.

Governor William Kabogo urged NLC to ensure grabbed county government land was recovered.

"I am telling those sitting on public land not to waste their money developing it because it will soon be handed back for public use," said Mr Kabogo. "I am also calling on banks to verify land ownership with both the county and national governments before accepting them as collateral for loans."