Criticos faults team for lock out in land lease talks

A fresh dispute has erupted between former Taveta MP Basil Criticos and the National Land Commission over a land lease in Taita Taveta County.
Mr Criticos has faulted the method the commission is using to handle the matter concerning his Machungwani farm which is said to be targeted by squatters.

Speaking in Taveta town Wednesday, the former MP Criticos said the matter before the commission was touching on private property and subjecting it to a public discussion was bad.

Mr Criticos was speaking for the first time since he was locked out of a meeting by Taveta leaders and attended by a Lands commissioner two weeks ago.

“Being locked out of a meeting that was discussing my property itself was an indication that the commission was taking sides which should not be the case,” he said.

The land in question was acquired in 1972 in an auction by the Standard Chartered Bank following a loan default and has not been grabbed as alleged by some leaders.

“I do not have any problem sitting in a meeting discussing the farm because I have the right to understand the conditions involved in decision making as to whether I qualify to have an extension of the lease or not,’ he said.

He said his tribulations started in 2000 when the Kanu government turned against him after he differed with the then President Daniel arap Moi.

He said on return from exile in 2003 that he found part of his farm invaded by squatters some of whom were claiming ownership.

The lease expired in January and was not renewed despite an application by Mr Criticos last year since the commission was not in operation by then.