County eyes 990-acre farm to settle landless

Mombasa county is set to acquire 990 acres of private land to settle more than 100,000 squatters.

Mombasa Deputy Governor Hazel Katana said plans were at advanced stage for the county to buy Waitiki farm at Likoni in collaboration with national government.

She said the county also planned to buy 86-acres at Kwa Bhulo in Bamburi.

Ms Katana said the national government is expected to finance the acquisitions but would not say how much it would the cost.

“The two parcels of land are among others the county has earmarked to settle squatters,” she said.

The deputy governor said this was part of a plan, with support from the national government, to issue title deeds to squatters.

Last month, 3,400 titles were issued to squatters in Jomvu, Kisauni and Nyali, she said. She added that more titles would be issued to squatters in Likoni and Changamwe.

“We are determined to solve the squatter problem,” she declared.

At the same time, Ms Katana said the county was repossessing public land that was grabbed by influential people.

She said 18 plots had been identified for repossession and would revert to public use.

Meanwhile, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti said he will soon move a motion in Parliament to compel the national government not to renew colonial era leaseholds in Mombasa which expired early this year.

Mr Awiti said five plots in Nyali where 32,000 families have been living for the past 40 years were among those with expired leases.
He said the government should settle the families on these plots.