The Agricultural Development Corporation says it has recovered more than 6,000 acres of grabbed land countrywide.
In the coastal region, ADC said they have recovered at least 3,000 acres at ADC farm in Malindi, which had been grabbed.
ADC managing director Ali Bule led the new board of directors to inspect some of their properties in the region.
At the ADC farm in Malindi, the board witnessed projects like cattle and goats breeding and cabbage farming.
The MD said they are seeking to secure all their properties through partnerships to prevent further encroachment in the future.
Bule addressed journalists after completing a tour of ADC Kisiwani and Top Farm in Magarini constituency in Kilifi county.
He was accompanied by ADC board chairman Joseph Rutumoi and other members.
The MD said they also recovered 3,000 acres at Ndabibi farm in Naivasha Nakuru and 60 acres from Kitale Semen Production Centre.
"The progress in recovering land has been enhanced over the years and we can say most of the land is back in our hands,” he said.
He said plans are underway to fence the ADC lands across the country to deter land grabbers and squatters.
Bule said they are in talks with the National Youth Service to partner in doing the fencing.
"The fencing can be in the form of life, electric or digging trenches around the farms and securing the land," he said.
ADC has more than 1.8 million acres across the country including in Kilifi , Tanariver, Garissa, Laikipia , Nakuru and Transnzoia counties.
According to ADC director Ephantus Murage, more than 600,000 acres of its Galana Kulalu ranches were being subdivided for sale by land grabbers and they moved in fast to halt the process.
“I want to appreciate government action because we could have lost 673,000 acres at Galana Kulalu. The hiving and subdivision was at a rate of 25,000 acres every month,” he said.
Murage appreciated members of the public and the media for educating residents and buyers to engage qualified registered land surveyors before any land transaction regarding subdivision.
He said all genuine land transactions need to have survey plans approved by the director of surveys and registered documents from the chief land registrar or county surveyor or county land registrar.
"Genuine available land has geographical georeferenced coordinates and approved survey plan with land reference numbers to guide a licenced surveyor to show the exact location to an accuracy of three centimetres" he said.
On squatters, he cited a lack of engaging registered land surveyors, inspection and maintenance of intervisible pillars or objects to guide the public on the extent of boundaries between beacons.
"Fighting land grabbing in ADC will not only benefit the government but it will also create jobs for people living within the land surrounding ADC and make the country food secure," he said.
He said the government and members of the public should help in guarding ADC land.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
