Interior and National Administration CS Kipchumba Murkomen has decried the rampant theft of prime land through the collusion and
collaboration of public officers in the
ministries of Land and Interior as well as the Judiciary.
He warned land theft collaborators that their days are
numbered as those found culpable will face the full force of the law.
He said investigations are ongoing and they will soon reveal
all those involved.
Murkomen said it will no longer be business as usual for
those individuals involved in this vice that has led to people being
dispossessed of their land and rendering many squatters while heightening
incidents of insecurity in the region.
Speaking in Kilifi after a closed-door security meeting to
deliberate on the situation, Murkomen said land disputes are a matter of
concern that needs to be resolved urgently as it poses a security threat.
“Political actors are under investigation for colluding with
professionals, lawyers and judicial officials, and those implicated will be
dealt with, especially public officers from Lands and security agencies,”
cautioned the CS.
He disclosed that elderly people are being taken advantage
of and dispossessed of prime land
because of poverty levels and
illiteracy.
“Land disputes are rampant in this county, and the situation
is not any different in others parts of the Coast like Kwale. It has led to a
squatter situation and competition for resources,“ said the CS, who is on his
third leg of the Jukwaa la Usalama working tour of the coast region.
“We will engage the Judiciary and the National Land
Commission to address these issues, especially in getting title deeds to rid off
land invasions.”
He said illegal transfer of land was an emotive issue in the
region, as elders are dethroned by their kin, who go ahead and sell it.
“I will be escalating this matter. I will have consultations
with Chief Justice Martha Koome on the concerns about the conduct of judicial
officials giving conflicting orders. This casts aspersions on their intentions, and it’s a matter that should be discussed at the Commission on Administrative
Justice,” promised the CS.
The CS is on a six-day elaborate tour of the Coast region to
assess security and service delivery.
He is also engaging in consultative meetings with local
leaders and security officers to get feedback on the delivery of government
services and the activation of mobile ID applications.
He is accompanied by the PS for Correctional Services, Dr
Salome Beacco.
Other leaders who accompanied him were MPs Owen Baya (Kilifi
North and National
Assembly Deputy Majority Leader), Gertrude Mbeyu (Woman
Rep), Amina Mnyazi (Malindi), Paul Katana (Kaloleni), Richard Chonga ( Kilifi
South), Anthony Kenga (Rabai).
Others are Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno, Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Biwott, MCAs and County Government officials, among others.
