Squatters agree to pave way for evaluation exercise

Land officials can now carry out an evaluation on land earmarked for the free port project after a two month stand-off with squatters.

The more than 5,000 squatters from Mbuta, Dongo Kundu, Mwangala, Mrongondoni, Kaya Mtongwe and Sinji villages yesterday agreed to pave way so that National Land Commission (NLC) officials can begin the valuation exercise.

“We are going to form a committee that is representative of the six villages and we will work with the commission in this exercise.

After this, we will enter into negotiations with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA),” squatters representative, Dume Jira, told the Press.

The squatters are currently occupying 3,000 acres said to belong to KPA but which they have insisted is their ancestral land which has led to the stand-off.

Their decision to cooperate with NLC was communicated yesterday by Chairman Muhammad Swazuri during a meeting held at Mwangala Primary school.

It was attended by, among others, Likoni Deputy County Commissioner Magu Mitindika, former Cabinet Minister Suleiman Shakombo and Mtongwe Ward Rep Hamisi Mwidani.

Mr Swazuri explained that the squatters had barred the land officials since they claimed the land in question was ancestral with some saying the title deed owned by KPA was fake while others insisted the lease issued to KPA had since expired.

GOVERNMENT LAND

The chairman however, said the land is wholly owned by Government, and has been since time immemorial, and refuted claims that it was ancestral land.

“We have talked to the squatters and they have agreed to work with us and the commission started the valuation exercise yesterday,” he said.

Swazuri said they will begin by conducting valuation on houses and other improvements done on the land in order to determine amounts for compensation.

He said the issue of land ownership will be tackled later as has been done with squatters affected by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in parts of the county.

KPA has already applied for approval of its Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) with the county government seeking to relocate the squatters.

Swazuri said compensation plans for private land owners located along the route, that will provide a direct link between Mombasa and South Coast, are now complete.

“There has been no problem with compensation of landowners along the Dongo Kundu route,” he said.

The road, which will provide an alternative connection to the Likoni ferry crossing measures about 17.5 kilometres.

It links with the Mombasa-Nairobi highway at Mriitini and the Likoni-Lunga Lunga highway at Ng’ombeni in Kwale county.