Squatters are great challenge to the ongoing Standard Gauge Railway and Dual Carriageway projects that are expected to turn around residents’ lives within counties in which they will be implemented.
This is according to the Athi River Assistant Deputy County Commissioner, Philip Lemarasia, who said issues of squatters in Athi River was a big problem.
Speaking to press ion his office yesterday, Lemarasia said there were several residents of the area who live on parcels of land that would be re possessed by the government for the grand projects but there did not have their title deeds.
The officer said this could led to big problem when the government will be effecting compulsory evictions to allow for the projects' implementation.
He disclosed that some of such residents had already lodged complaints in his office claiming that they would be rendered homeless if the compulsory evictions were effected.
Lemarasia has called on the government’s intervention to put into considerations interests of such squatters before the projects get to advanced stages to prevent land disputes.
He said that there were several land disputes in Athi River, most of which resulted from rampant land grabbing by cartels in the region.