Makueni leaders lash out at Charity Ngilu for declaring Konza City belongs to Machakos

By ONESMUS NZIOKA

Makueni, Kenya: Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has attracted the wrath of Makueni leaders for declaring Konza Techno city land is situated in Machakos County.

Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana, senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, a section of MPs and MCAs are now accusing the Lands CS of deliberately creating confusion around the Konza Project.

Reacting to a story in the The Standard about a letter the CS wrote confirming the latest development, Prof Kibwana termed the alleged transfer of the Konza land to Machakos County as an illegality for which the CS ought to be admonished.

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“Anyone who cares to know,  knows that Konza is in Makueni. When the Government bought the 5,000-acre piece of land from the Malili Ranching Society, it did so in consultation with Makueni. All the other transactions, including the cadastral survey, NEMA clearance and the Konza Draft Bill in the Senate were done in reference to Makueni. Ngilu must learn to read, understand and follow the Constitution,” said an agitated Prof Kibwana.

The governor said Ngilu was out to create divisions between the leaders and the people of Makueni and Machakos at a time the leaders are working on uniting the three Ukambani counties.

“Ngilu is a daughter of Makueni and I do not understand why she has chosen to scuttle a dream set to change the face of this county,” said Prof Kibwana.

Three governors, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, Dr Julius Malombe (Kitui) and Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos) recently signed a unity pact dubbed Ukambani Leaders’ Forum on Development and Devolution.

“Development of the Konza City, which is located in Makueni County will be supported,” reads clause two of the 11- resolutions pact, signed by the three governors on March 28, 2014.

Kibwana termed the transfer of the land to Machakos as a trick to push the leaders to court to erode investor confidence as no investor would commit resources in a controversial project.

Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr termed Ngilu’s declaration as very sad and mischievous, saying the Konza development plan could not have been approved without the input of all the stakeholders.

VERY SAD

Mutula said an agreement had been reached with the Lands ministry that the plan was not to be approved before it was signed by the Makueni, Machakos and Kajiado governors, in whose counties the Konza city passes.

Kilome MP, Regina Ndambuki, in whose constituency the land is said to lay, says Ngilu is being used to scuttle the project.

Techno city, was always part of Kilome Constituency even before the creation of Makueni district. Kilome constituency is part of Makueni County, so how can part it be alleged to be in Machakos County?” wonders the Kilome MP.

Ndambuki is now calling for the resignation of the lands secretary, saying she has created confusion in the ministry.

Makueni MP, Daniel Maanzo termed Ngilu’s statement as fraudulent warned Ngilu accepting an illegality.

Area MCA Caroline Munanie said residents of the area have always voted in Kilome and it was only in the run up to the Makueni senatorial by-election in July 2013, that talk of the area being part of Machakos emerged.

In a letter to Makueni Senator, Ngilu had stated:

“The ministry of lands, Housing and Urban development is in consultation with Makueni and Machakos counties, the ministry of Interior and Coordination of National government and the IEBC with a view to resolving outstanding issues regarding the counties’ boundaries.”

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