Hope for squatters as State begins buying Mazrui land

The government has started purchasing parcels of land owned by the Mazrui family in Takaungu, Kilifi North Constituency, in Kilifi County.

A big chunk of land in Takaungu belongs to the Mazrui family and it has been at the centre of protracted battles between communities over its ownership.

Hatua Yetu, a Community-Based Organization (CBO), has for many years advocated for land ownership for the hundreds of squatters in the region.

Speaking at his home in Takaungu, Mr Mwavita Eliud, chairman of Hatua Yetu, is hopeful of owning land after many years as a squatter.

“Land problems in Takaungu have persisted for long without tangible solution, so when Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi came here last year, we raised the matter with him and he promised to find a long-lasting solution to it,” said Mr Mwavita.

He said that they were now happy that both the national and county governments had taken action.

Stunted development

“These new developments are a pointer to both governments' commitments to end the squatter problem in Takaungu, which had stunted development in the region that has potential in agriculture and livestock production. We want the process speeded up."

Two weeks ago, Mr Kingi and Lands Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Gideon Mung’aro met at the governor’s office in Kilifi town to address land matters.

During the meeting, Mr Mung’aro announced several measures the national government had taken to address land matters in the region. They included purchasing several parcels of land owned by the Mazrui family in different parts of the county.

The CAS said that the land issues in Kilifi were among the top issues both the governor and Mr Mung’aro put to President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa.

“After we met with President, the issue we wanted his intervention on was the Mazrui land. We now have money for Mazrui, and the government is buying four parcels of land, with three of the parcels in Kilifi.

Paid Sh377 million

“We have fully paid Sh377 million for the Mikanjuni land in Mtwapa, we are buying Kagaa in Kibarani where we are purchasing 4,168 acres and for Mazrui, we are starting with Msabaha,” said Mr Mung’aro.

The purchase of the Mtwapa land is expected to resettle almost 10,000 people.

According to Governor Kingi, the Kilifi land problems are well known among its leadership and they were seeking a long-lasting solution.

He said his administration is collaborating well with the national government in addressing the challenge that has existed for decades.

“All that the people on the ground want is to get title deeds and it will not matter to them whether it has been brought by the national of county government. If we can approach these issues as a team, then we shall achieve a lot.

“We are here working for the same people and we are not in competition in anyway. So, in the planning stages, I would wish to see national and county government officials sitting together so that I don’t commit funds where the national government is also allocating funds,” he said.