The government will not tolerate private developers who have encroached on government and public lands, Murang’a County Commissioner Mr. Mohammed Barre has said.
Speaking during Jamuhuri Day celebrations, the CC observed that part of government land set aside to put up public utilities has been grabbed by private developers.
He stated that in Murang’a cases of public lands irregularly diverted to use by private individuals are high and added measures are in place to revert the encroached land for public purposes.
Barre noted that civil servants’ houses are not spared as some individuals are claiming ownership of the premises.
The government, he observed is in the process of getting all information on how some pieces of public land and government houses ended up being taken by individuals.
National Land Commission together with other relevant stakeholders are in the process of gathering information about all grabbed government land and establish authenticity of the title deeds held by individuals claiming to own the land.
“We are committed to protect all government land. Murang’a has many cases of grabbed public land and we want to know the truth on how individuals got possession of these land parcels,” said Barre at Gitugu grounds of Mathioya Sub County.
He asked members of the public to help in safeguarding public land, which will be of great benefit in provision of services.
“Every public land has its intended purpose and once utilities will be put in place, they will go a long way in providing services to common mwananchi,” he further said.
The government, the administrator said will continue to fence public land to deter people from encroaching on them.
He said all land boards were abolished and other new ones have been established and will start working from December 17.
The former land boards, the commissioner noted suffered integrity questions as members were accused of engaging in corruption and not being transparent thus forcing government to abolish them.
“New land boards have been established and we expect them to help in solving land issues which have been a big problem in this county,” added the Commissioner.
Meanwhile, Barre cautioned young people from being recruited in criminal gangs which have been terrorizing local residents.
He said security officers are on ground to crack down on all those involved in criminal activities and asked youth to engage in productive activities and avoid being involved in crime.
“There are many economic activities our young people can do. This habit of being recruited in criminal gangs will not solve their problem. Police are committed to crackdown on the gangs,” he added.
The commissioner further called upon management of coffee factories to work in partnership with security officers to end theft of coffee leaving farmers counting losses.
This year, more than six coffee factories were broken into and cherry worth millions of shillings stolen.
“Managers of coffee factories should avoid storing coffee in the premises, let the coffee be taken to processors without much delay,” stated Barre.
By Bernard Munyao
