Leave farms now, squatters ordered

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has told more than 600 squatters occupying two disputed farms in the county not to venture onto the land.

The squatters have been claiming ownership of 5,500 acres of land in Ihaleni and 270-acres in Bofa Kiwandani.

On Thursday, they camped at Karisa Maitha Stadium in Kilifi town to be addressed by the governor and National Lands Commission vice chairperson Abigael Mbagaya who were meeting over the matter.

Mr Kingi asked the squatters to give the commission six months to sort out the ownership dispute, saying this was their only hope.

“I know that the lands commission has the powers to investigate and table their findings over the genuine owners of the land at Ihaleni and Nayeni. We don’t want any tricks in these investigations,” Mr Kingi said.

INVESTIGATING

Ms Mbagaya told the squatters that the National Land Commission was already investigating and would soon reveal the genuine owners.

She said that land commission will work with the county government to address the problem of land ownership in Kilifi.

“We want to assure the people of Kilifi that the matter has caught our attention. Investigations are ongoing and eventually, we will get a solution,” she said.

On Monday, 63 squatters were arrested after they invaded the Bofa Kiwandani land.

Twenty of them were later charged in court with trespass.

Some 41 other squatters were charged with unruly behaviour after they stormed the Kilifi Police Station carrying pangas and throwing twigs into the station while shouting, as they protested the arrest of their colleagues.

Kilifi Resident Magistrate Leah Juma released them on a Sh5,000 bail each and a surety of the same amount and set the hearing for August 11.