Kwale, Taita to resist land lease renewals

Governors from the Coast region, John Mruttu of Taita Taveta and Kwale’s Salim Mvurya have dismissed proposals to renew the leases of land that are about to expire and say these properties that are in private hands must revert to their counties when the leases lapse.

Mruttu was yesterday categorical that expired leases would not be renewed until squatters have been settled. The Taita Taveta governor said the county needs land for large scale investments. “I returned from India which I visited with the former PM (Raila Odinga) and many investors have shown interest to invest in our county in agriculture and exploration of mineral deposits, but the problem is land. We can’t talk of renewal of leases while we don’t have land to attract these investors,” said Mruttu.