Lands body to demolish structures along coastline

By JOSEPH MASHA    

Kilifi, Kenya: The National Land Commission will demolish all structures built within the 60 metres stretch from the shore line at the Coast.

Commission Chairman Mohamed Swazuri directed investors to voluntarily pull down the structures failure to which the Commission will demolish them.

Dr Swazuri also warned former MPs and civic leaders who have abetted irregular sale of public property at the Coast.

“Politicians who have served as MPs and civic leaders at the Coast have been playing a big role in land grabbing as they have ideas and maps of the whereabouts of public lands,” said Swazuri.

Speaking at the beach of Jumba/Kibabamuche Settlement Scheme at Watamu in Kilifi County during his tour to gather facts on land use and grabbing on Monday, he said the law does not allow a private developer to put up buildings within a 60-metre distance from the shoreline.

Accompanied by Kilifi Deputy Governor Kenneth Kamto and the Kilifi District Land Registrar Athuman Juma, Swazuri expressed shock that lands officers had been allowing the construction of buildings and perimeter walls up the seashores though they know it was illegal.

“The law states that no developer is allowed to construct or put any structures within the 60-metre stretch from the shore line but investors have either been constructing hotel buildings or perimeter walls on the shore line,”said Swazuri.

He said his Commission would not tolerate private developers who go against the law in terms of land ownership and its use. He also directed all perimeter walls erected to block access routes to the beach be demolished immediately.

He further said private developers had blocked about 18 access routes to the beach and said those have been marked for demolition.

Perimeter walls

“It’s sad to see that private developers, some who irregularly acquired land had gone to an extent of denying local fishermen and other beach users by erecting perimeter walls on access routes and all those have to be cleared,” said Swazuri.

Residents of Takaungu yesterday morning pulled down same gates erected by a private developer leading to the beaches.

Swazuri, who later visited the area, addressed the irate residents and assured them that all access routes to the beaches will be reopened for their use.

Mr Kamto said campaigns to fight land grabbing in the area had started and called for cooperation between the Governor’s office and residents.

Heº said lands offices were to be blamed for the massive grabbing of public utility plots in Kilifi County and said investigations would be carried out to reveal the culprits.