Land grabbers in Laikipia put on notice

Oct 14, 2023 - 11:39

Laikipia County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of infrastructure and urban planning Nabos Ekwam speaking to the media in Nanyuki after the affordable housing land handover on Friday, October 13, 2023. (Photo by Geoffrey Makokha).

Nanyuki,

Saturday October 14, 2023

KNA by Muturi Mwangi

The government has initiated the process of reclaiming grabbed land from private developers in Laikipia County.

Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Patrick Muli speaking to the press on Friday in Nanyuki during the land for affordable housing handover said that the government was keen to ensure all grabbed land was returned to the government for affordable housing projects in the county.

“National and County governments have huge chunks of land in the hands of land grabbers. Plans are underway to reclaim them for affordable housing projects. We are not supposed to have any difficulties trying to allocate a place for housing initiative,” said Muli.

“Something is being done and all the land will be repossessed and I am happy to report that,” he added.

It is alleged that most of the grabbed parcels of land are within prime areas of Nanyuki and Nyahururu towns.

In December last year, the Ethics and Ant-Corruption Commission (EACC) issued a warning that they would repossess all the grabbed land in the country and revoke illegal title deeds for the same..

Muli said that, with the land, it would be easy for the government to construct affordable housing units that are set to create job opportunities for the Laikipia residents.

“The project has a lot of benefits to the residents and especially the young people. It will create job opportunities and ensure there are cheap and affordable housing units,” said the administrator.

He said in the next few weeks after the handing over of the affordable housing construction site, the government would commission the construction and encourage residents to take advantage of the project.

Laikipia County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of infrastructure and urban planning Nabos Ekwam said that affordable housing was in top gear in the region.

He said that the first phase would be 200 units that are set to be constructed on 2.5 acres in Sweetwaters in the outskirts of Nanyuki town.

“The project will sit on 5 acres which will be divided into two phases of 200 housing units each. This project will be replicated across the county and aimed at creating job opportunities for the youth,” said Ekwam, adding that about 250 youth would be employed each day until the completion of the project.

Courtesy; KNA