Kilifi,KENYA:Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya has said he wrote to the National Lands Commission to immediately revoke a lease for a disputed piece of land in Kashem area in the outskirts of Kilifi town.
Baya said the move has been sparked by NLC merging with Justus Sambu, a businessman who claims to the rightful owner of the land who wants residents to vacate the land.
In the letter dated 6th December 2017, Baya wants the commission to revoke the 99 years lease and give back the land to Dama Kathubu, 75 who also claims to be the rightful owner of the piece of land.
“I have been pushed to write to the National land Commission to revoke this lease and give back the land to Dama Kathubu,” said baya.
“I am shocked to see the NLC pushing for the vacation of more than 800 residents of this land or pay Kshs. 20 million to Justus Sambu for him to quite, this is weird. I want to tell National Lands Commission in Kilifi and Nairobi that they cannot merge with Sambu to intimidate our people. In short our stand is, Sambu will not get this land, full stop,” he added.
Earlier in the month residents of this land protested to the Mp’s offices crying foul over the intimidation they are getting from the National land commission and provincial administration.
Dama Kathubu 75, said the land was initially 12 acres but she decided to give 6.5 acres to the community.
She said she has lived in the land for all those years, until 1993 when Sambu was given a 99 years lease by the government.
“I have been here all those years, but of late this man (Justus Sambu) together with national Lands Commission and provincial administration have been wanting me and my family out of this. I have nowhere to run, so I need help from the government,” Kathubu said.
Historical injustices in the coast is still a big challenge which President Uhuru Kenyatta has to take action sooner than later.
