Nyali MP Hezron Awiti has urged the national government to address land issues facing the coast region that has affected many squatters.
Awiti said all land in the region whose lease titles have expired should be reverted back to the community. The MP urged President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Land Commission (NLC) chairman Muhamad Swazuri to resolve the land issues in the region.
He said most Mombasa residents live in squatter settlements and there is need for a policy that will regularise land ownership and to stem frequent evictions.
Awiti said the government should not renew many of the 99-year-old leases when natives, who are the majority in Mombasa County, still live as squatters.
Awiti said, “The National Lands Commission chair should not renew leases but convert the leased land to public land as a way of dealing with issues of landlessness at the coast. It is unfortunate that some individuals own large tracts of land in Mombasa while natives in the region are living as squatters.”
He added, “The president and NLC Chairman should form land committees in the region to manage these lands.”
Awiti was speaking on Sunday in Likoni, Mombasa when he met Kaya elders. He added that conflicts between communities in the region should be addressed quickly to prevent further land tussle.