Agency orders Mama Ngina Drive land ‘grabbers’ to leave

National Lands Commission (NLC) Chairman Mohammad Swazuri (right) points to one of the walls which was erected by a private developer within Mama Ngina Drive sea front, January 10, 2019. NLC has issued a three months notice to the private developers to to surrender the title deeds of the two plots within Mama Ngina Drive. [PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

Alleged owners of 13 parcels of land at Mama Ngina Drive have 90 days to vacate the properties.

The National Land Commission has also ordered the individuals and organisations to surrender documents they claim were issued by authorities granting them ownership of the said properties within 14 days.

“Prepare to vacate the said lands within 90 days as required by section 155 of the Land Act of 2012 and 152C of the Land Laws (Amendment) Act of 2016,” NLC Muhamad Swazuri said in a public notice dated January 14.

The named holders of the parcels of land include Mohammed Ali, Mrs Nassim Ibrahim, Baptist Fellowship, Golf Course, Ashok Doshi and Pratibha Doshi and Kamlesh Lalitchandra.

Swazuri said after complaints from the public, the commission carried out investigations and confirmed indeed the properties were illegally hived off Mama Ngina Waterfront Gardens.

Of the 26 acres of land under the recreational centre, 29 have been grabbed.

On January 11, the county government demolished perimeter walls surrounding the 2.5 acres of land at the park.

Efforts to reclaim the land follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive on January 7 that all public land grabbed across the county be repossessed within five months.

Uhuru, who spoke when he launched a Sh460 million facelift of the park, said he will not sit back and watch people grab land meant for residents.

“I want NLC and the Ministry of Lands to ensure when we return here to officially launch the project after construction, all grabbed public land will have been repossessed and reverted to public use,” said Uhuru, who was accompanied by opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The facelift is part of an ongoing project to turn the coastal city into a leading tourism destination in the world.

A public square, two gateways, a Swahili cultural centre, pigeon coops, paved paths, space for restaurants, a modern market and an amphitheatre are some of the facilities set to be developed in the multi-million project.

Completion of the project, which is jointly implemented by the Tourism ministry and Mombasa County government, is scheduled for May.