Mavoko MP Patrick Makau (L) during National Lands Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri's fact-finding mission visit to Ngelani Ranch land in Mavoko, Machakos County on December 21, 2017. [Photo/Maugo Owiti]
Mavoko residents should not be conned on the controversial International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) land in Kapiti within Machakos County, says area MP Patrick Makau.
Makau said there were cartels collecting money from unsuspecting locals promising them plots on the 32,000-acre land which its ownership is still not clear.
“Residents should be aware of the cartels, nobody should con people of their hard earned money in Mavoko,” said Makau.
He spoke to this writer on the phone on Sunday.
Makau said the cartels had formed self-help groups and were collecting Sh1,000 per person from the residents as “membership registration” fees with promises of issuing them potions of the land.
“People should not be coned, they should not pay money to anybody for the land,” added he.
“I heard on radios and social media that Mavoko residents were meeting on the land on Saturday, I decided to join the meeting accompanied by Mavoko MCAs including the Lands committee chairman in Machakos County Assembly Robert Kisini who doubles as Athi River MCA. I did not take more than 30minutes in the meeting,” said Makau.
Makau said he attended the meeting on a fact-finding mission.
“My intention of attending the meeting that was attended by hundreds of Mavoko residents, stakeholders and Machakos government officials was to have facts about the ILRI land,” said Makau.
He said he wanted to find out exactly who the land belongs to, whether if it is public, private or government land.
Makau said there were claims it had been invaded by grabbers who had been subdividing and selling plots out to unsuspecting buyers.
“People should not pay money. If there is any government land lying idle to be given to locals, it should be issued out freely,” added Makau.
He said nobody including politicians can give locals the land.
“No politician can give them the land, necessary legal processes must be followed to revert it to residents,” said Makau.
He said the National Lands Commission has the mandate and the Lands Act has to be duly adhered to.
“I took up the stories as narrated by locals and other stakeholders on the land will analyze them to see how we can approach the issue.”
Makau said the government should intervene in the matter by surveying the land including 1,000 acres in Kapiti plains which Machakos Government repossessed for unpaid accrued rates of about Sh8 billion.
“The government should tell us whether the land’s lease is over, whether there are 1,000 acres of land Governor Alfred Mutua took in Kapiti plains,” said Makau.
He said Mutua should also look into the matter.
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