The national Lands Commission plans to revoke tittle deeds of all riparian lands which were allegedly acquired illegally after the Indian Ocean receded, Chairman Dr. Muhamad Swazuri said.
This is after it emerged that many investors and private developers along the Ocean line where the sea receded obtained tittle deeds against the law.
Top among the lands set to be revoked and given back to the public is the controversial property which is in front of the Malindi Muslim Cemetery which has dispute over ownership.
The original land reportedly belonged to the Waqfu Commission of Kenya but a private developer allegedly obtained a tittle deed at the riparian land created by nature in front of the Muslim cemetery when the sea receded.
Malindi Muslims held a demonstration two weeks ago protesting against the land which they claimed had been grabbed by a private developer.
On Sunday Swazuri held a meeting with members of the Waqfu Commission and a section of Malindi Muslim leaders over the issue before touring the site.
The NLC Chairman said already he had directed his staff to write a notice of revocation of tittle deed and others which was also built on riparian land.
Once the Notice is out after about two weeks Swazuri said he would come back with the Cabinet Secretary Lands, CS, Environment, NEMA officials, the County Commissioner to make it public in a baraza in Malindi.
“All those who invaded riparian lands and obtained tittle deeds are going to lose them, we shall revoke the tittle deeds and giver back the; and to the public,’’ he said.
In Malindi he said the riparian land had receded for over 1.1 kilometer that’s why people were scrambling to own the land.
He said riparian land is not supposed to be allocated to anyone because one day the ocean will return to the original area and once that happen those who invested shall lose everything.
Earlier during the meeting with Swazuri at the Deputy County Commissioner’s office the Wakfu Comission of Kenya officials demanded to be allowed to control the land and protect it from grabbers as they had no intention to develop it.
In one of the area they said there was a mass grave of Somali residents who died after their ship was involved in an accident in the 1990s.
Twahir AbdulKharim a local leader who has been in the forefront tin fighting against the Malindi Muslim cemetery riparian land asked Swazuri to allow them construct a perimeter wall in order to prevent any further encroachment.
Zubeir Hussein the Chairman of Waqfu Commission of Kenya welcomed the decision of the NLC chairman saying it was a big relief to the Malindi Muslim Community.