Two Kilifi County legislators on Saturday vowed to use any means to bring back over 900 acres of ‘grabbed’ Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) land to the locals in Sabaki area of Magarini Sub County.
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo and Magarini Member of Parliament Michael Kingi said they were ready to shed blood but to ensure justice prevails for the people who have been rendered squatters in their land.
The ADC land was allegedly allocated to influential government officials and tycoons at the expense of the locals who gave out the land for Agricultural purposes over five decades ago.
Madzayo said Sabaki ADC land was not Tsavo national park but an area where locals were born, they live and shall be buried there but have no right in their own land.
Speaking during a meeting with the squatters and Kilifi County Assembly Committee on lands to try to check solution of the controversial land the Senator said the grabbers who were allocated the ADC land had no interest in developing the area but wanted to acquire wealth and develop their regions.
The Senator said Sabaki people have to get back their land and assured them that he would use every inch of his effort, Knowledge of law to ensure justice prevails.He said it was so sad to see that companies were allocated huge chunks of land within the ADC which was initially owned by locals.
“Any historical injustice was done to the People of Kilifi you will pay for it, the country has a head of state and democracy, every Kenyan has a right if there is private and public interest matter normally the public takes precedent,’’ he said.
He told President Kenyatta to intervene and ensure the ADC land in Sabaki is given back to the locals.The Senator asked the County assembly Committee members of land to file a petition to the Senate Speaker and he will push for it to be adopted and action is taken.
“If it is shedding blood we are already we shall not go back, normally we are peacefully but now even if it’s to shed blood we are ready,’’ he said.
On his part, the Magarini MP said Sabaki ADC project collapsed and the land should be given back to the people.
“We shall not allow the land to be taken by tycoons, we are aware the land was allocated to individuals a long time ago but it’s time we are looking ways of bringing back the land to the people,’’ he said.
He, however, asked the locals to unite and avoid divisions that could jeopardize his efforts to bring back the land.
Some of the locals he said had accepted to be given money in one of the pieces of land acquired by LAP trust bought 25 acres for a housing project and were now against his effort to fight for the ADC land.