Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Mr. Zachary Njeru has asked leaders to work together towards resolving the perennial land issues affecting Lamu County.
Speaking in Lamu Friday at the KEFRI Institute in Mokowe Township after attending a leadership caucus of elected leaders in Lamu, the Lands CS stated that the national government remains committed to aiding the county resolve its land management issues.
“There is a lot of political goodwill especially from the President in seeing that a resolution is arrived at to ensure that land issues stemming from land invasions, landlessness and the squatter problem is resolved in Lamu,” the CS said.
“In resolving the land issues in Lamu, the county will signal that it is committed to attracting investors as well as complimenting the national government’s agenda of building 3,000 affordable housing units in Lamu,” he stated.
“Lamu is growing, especially with the coming of the Lamu Port, the LAPSSET infrastructure, coupled by plans to build special economic zones that informs the need to resolve Lamu’s land issues so that investors can come in without fear of losing out in future,” he added.
He called on the politicians to objectively come together in resolving the land problems affecting Lamu, adding that the national government is committed to working together with the county government in resolving the land management issues plaguing the county.
He further called on land officers based in Lamu to work independently and fairly in executing their duties with regard to issuance of title deeds.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy said that his administration is committed to coming up with a land resolution to address the land problems affecting the county.
“With land being a devolved function, the resolution for land problems will eventually come from the county government since we are the ones who are closest to the affected mwananchi,” Timamy said.
He stated that the county government was keen to resolve problems of affected areas such as the Swahili Scheme for which he stated that legitimate squatters would receive two acres each.
Governor Timmamy said incidences of land invasions on ranches are partly to blame for the land problems affecting Lamu. He also stated that the county government would adhere to the Lamu Spatial Plan 2016 that would zone the county’s economic zones and housing areas.
Lamu Woman Representative Monica Marubu urged the national and county governments to work fast in coming up with land management resolutions that would aid in fostering peace in the county.
Nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla, also voiced her concerns over the land management crisis plaguing Lamu, and called on all leaders to come up with honest solutions when debating the land issues in Lamu.
“Land issues are very emotive and it is high time leaders come together and debate about honest solutions that will address the squatter problem that has plagued indigenous communities in Lamu,” she said.
Lamu West legislator Stanley Muthama on his part called on the local leaders to trust the national government and the Ministry of Lands to come up with resolutions aimed at tackling landlessness in Lamu.
Lamu County Assembly Speaker Azahar Mbarak pledged that the 3rd County Assembly will work towards addressing land issues with the county Executive adding that the push will be to ensure that landlessness cases are resolved.
Also present was Lamu East MP Captain Ruweida Obo.
By Amenya Ochieng
