The government intends to resettle Mavoko Slum dwellers on a 3,000 acre land formerly owned by the East African Portland Cement in Athi River town.
The National Lands Commission Chairman, Dr Muhammad Swazuri who addressed the residents on the land during his official tour on Thursday said the constitution allows the government to give its needy residents land to settle on when their is need.
"I thank you for being honest to request the government to give you the land for settlements and for not grabbing it as is the case in many cases across the country," said Swazuri.
Swazuri said that the East African Portland Cement Company had used the materials they excavated from the land needed for cement production until it was exhausted.
"Portland has used the materials they needed from the land until they exhausted it. If we live the land just like that then it will be grabbed since there are many land grabbers around," said Swazuri.
Swazuri said his office will hold a consultation meeting with the Interior Ministry, that of Industrialization and Portland chairman, after meeting representatives of the community on Tuesday next week to discuss the process on how the land can be given back to the community.
"We have accepted your requests to be given this land by the government. I therefore direct that representatives of the six groups that have made the requests officially introduce themselves to the commission next Tuesday at 9.00am so as we discuss more on the matter before consulting our brothers in Ministries of Interior, Industrialization and Portland chairman," said Swazuri.
The NLC chairman said the process of reverting land back to the community had started some year back but stopped due to various reasons.
He warned the residents against selling the same land once the government hands it over to them claiming that some people had a habit of requesting for land from the state which they kept selling.
"We do not want to see the land being sold after the government gives it to you. Some people are fond of requesting for land from the state which they end selling thereby remaining vulnerable," said Swazuri.
Swazuri said the National Land Commission would give the land with conditions to prevent the beneficiaries from selling it.
He said the government would give caviet on the land to avoid sells but allow for inheritance in a bid of ensuring the residents lived under good conditions and improved livelihoods just like other Kenyans.
Mavoko MP, Patrick Makau who hosted the NLC chairman said the residents had made the requests given that they live in slums under deplorable conditions.
He said the government should give the land to the slum dwellers to help in slum upgrading in Mavoko constituency and sub county as a whole.
"The residents have started constructed these houses as we look forward for official transfer by the government to the community," said Makau.
Makau said the residents were law abiding citizens and had for a long time protected the land from getting grabbed by land grabbers.
Also present was the East African Portland Company Managing Director, Kephar Tande, who said decision of reverting the land to the community lies with the government.