Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has vowed to repossess all public land that has been grabbed by cartels as the same has hindered development of urban centres.
Mutula disclosed that the grabbing of public land has particularly slowed down the planning of urban centres and also scared away investors from major towns.
The threat to demolish houses comes at a time when a land grabber has constructed a house that has resulted in stalling the tarmacking of Equity Junction-Makueni School Road within Wote town.
“If you have stolen or holding public land, your days are numbered, return the title deed to the government or we will take it forcefully,” said Mutula while addressing Mashujaa Day celebrations at Unoa Grounds in Wote town.
“In Nairobi, storey buildings that were constructed on road reserves were demolished,” added the governor.
He attributed the construction of houses on grabbed public land in major towns to resultant poor drainage systems and challenges in government’s efforts of putting up social amenities meant to benefit the residents.
“We must do things properly, it will not be business as usual,” he warned.
Earlier a businessman Duncan Mwilu raised concern over the poor planning especially of Wote town that lacks social amenities like water and sewerage drainage systems.
“We have business malls and buildings which have no water and drainage system. This has prevented investors from investing in the town,” said Mwilu.
Mwilu also appealed to the County Government of Makueni to initiate plans to put up an industrial park in Wote saying the facility would create an enabling environment for investors who will in turn offer job opportunities to the many unemployed youths.
“Can you think about industrialization? We need an industrial Park where investors will come and invest and employ our youths,” said the businessman who owns a chain of Supermarkets in the town.
By Ronald Rono
