The government will allocate part of the 1,200 acres belonging to the Numerical Engineering Machines Corporation to genuine squatters in Mavoko Sub County.
Addressing members of the public on the land located in Athi River on Wednesday, the National Land Commission’s Chairman, Muhammad Swazuri said the state is committed to ensuring that all squatters are resettled across the country.
“We have received requests from these residents that they want to be considered for this land and not to be sent away by the Numerical Engineering Machines Corporation. As a commission, we have received your requests,” said Swazuri.
Swazuri said the commission will meet with officials from the Numerical Engineering Machines Corporation, University of Nairobi and Industrialisation Ministry to agree on what acreage of the land to be reverted to the community.
He said Mavoko Sub County has got overwhelming numbers of squatters hence need for speedy intervention.
Swazuri said conditions of the squatters in the region were deplorable arguing it was unfair for some of the residents from Maasai community to live in manyattas as their neighbourhoods were full of lucrative permanent houses with perimeter walls.
He, however, urged the residents to coexist peacefully with employees of the Numerical Engineering Machines Corporation stating that nobody would be unlawfully evicted from the land.
“The Numerical Engineering Machines Corporation has got no powers to effect forceful evictions. I want you to live in peace without stress. That time of forcefully evicting Kenyans at night is long gone. It is unconstitutional, inhuman and outdated,” said Swazuri.
Swazuri urged members of the National Assembly to do justice to Kenyans by passing evictions and resettlement and historical injustices bills.
He promised the residents that he would return to the same land after one week from now for another public meeting and a comprehensive fact finding mission.