Ex-Women rep Shakilla to sue NLC over Lamu land rights

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Former Lamu women representative Shakila Abdalla at a past media briefing PHOTO COURTESY

Lamu, KENYA: Ex-Lamu women representative Shakilla Abdalla has threatened to sue embattled National Lands Commission (NLC) chair Mohamed Swazuri and the entire commission on grounds that they have infringed Lamu people’s land rights.

Speaking in Lamu on Wednesday, Shakilla accused Swazuri of being on the forefront to forcefully acquire local lands with the excuse of using them for national projects.

Shakilla said the number of squatters in Lamu continues to grow more so after Swazuri took over the helms of the NLC.

The vocal ex leader criticized the NLC saying that despite the commission having been formed to deal with and address thorny land issues in the country, it was doing the opposite.

“At least 2000 acres of land have been acquired carelessly here in Lamu under the directives of Swazuri. Many, whose lands were taken have never gotten compensation. We are simply told the lands have been taken for setting up national projects. Why would Swazuri do this to Lamu knowing very well the issues of land here? We shall head to court until we reclaim what we lost,” said Shakilla.

Recently, Swazuri and 16 others were arraigned in court on charges of purchase of dubious land for the Standard Gauge Railway to the tune of sh.221,375,000.

They were also charged with abuse of office, breach of trust, unlawful acquisition of public property, unlawful disposal of public property and neglect of official duty.

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