Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Government Coordination Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to deal firmly with land fraudsters and land grabbers in Machakos who have become the biggest threat to security.
The CS was speaking at the County Commissioners residence in Machakos during his end-of-Lower Eastern Jukwa la Usalama tour, where he met with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and opinion leaders from every sub-county in Machakos, where the major issue raised was land grabbing.
He said land grabbing has brought about insecurity issues and invasion by squatters and disclosed plans to find out which government officials and politicians are colluding with criminals in land fraud by using fake title deeds and harassing legal land owners.
“Land is the biggest threat to security,” declared Murkomen.
Murkomen also disclosed plans to work with the land ministry in developing concrete policies and strategies that will tame land grabbers and fraudsters in Machakos once and for all as soon as they conclude the Lower Eastern tour of Jukwaa la Usalama.
“We will compile a report that will inform the development of a National policy to address land ownership disputes, especially cases involving large tracts of land which have been invaded by squatters and land grabbers,” added the CS.
He added that Machakos being close to Nairobi has made it a safe haven for criminals who have run away from Nairobi and has promised landowners to have proactive conversations with them on how best to help them secure their properties.
Another key issue that came up during the deliberations with the NGAO, religious leaders, People with Disability (PWD) and members of the public is the Human wildlife conflict, especially in Masinga Sub-County, where they requested a KWS office to bring services close to the people.
They also decried the increase of second-generation alcohol and gambling machines that are destabilizing the youths in Machakos and urged for government intervention on curbing the vice.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti reiterated the land issues in Machakos as the main challenge facing them with prominent officials having court orders to harass land owners who have legal title deeds.
“Nobody has the right to invade private property where landowners have valid title deeds. We have seen fraudsters obtaining court orders to drive away genuine land owners using the police and we must finish this problem for good,” declared the Governor.
She called upon the National government to fast-track the issuance of 50,000 title deeds that are still in the lands office in Machakos to help in empowering residents.
Principal Secretary for Interior Raymond Omolo, on his part, added that the importance of the Jukwaa la Usalama forum is to instill collaboration and unity between wananchi and security personnel in the counties while involving wananchi and ensuring they have a say.
On second generation alcohol destroying the youths, Omolo said they are working with NACADA in launching a curriculum that will open up space for rehabilitation and also work with community leaders and churches in integrating them into the society.
The Jukwaa la Usalama had several leaders, such as Lower Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, and County Assembly Speaker Ann Kiusya, among other County and National government officials.
By Anne Kangero
