Kilifi, KENYA: Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya wants National Land Commission Vice Chairperson Abigael Mbagaya removed from the Commission.
Baya says she should be removed on grounds of misconduct and violation of the Constitution on dealing with lands issues.
He accused Mbagaya of intimidating and threating purported genuine landowners of Chembe Kibabamche and Kilifi Jimba in Gede and wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a special select committee to investigate her conducts during the commission’s inquiry.
Speaking in Kilifi after meeting elders from the Chembe Kibabamche and Kilifi Jimba adjudication sections, Baya said Mbagaya used her office to deny residents their rights to own land at the adjudication section.
“When National Lands Commission visited Chembe Kibabamche residents hoped for an end to their land problem that has existed since the 1980s,” Baya said.
Instead, the commission chaired by Abigael Mbagaya used its powers to deny the residents their rights and issued land to their people after a meeting in Malindi Red Cross hall where they intimidated, threatened and denied them a chance to be heard and fight for their right. This was against the constitution,” he added.
The MP pointed that after the Red Cross meeting, the commission published names of tycoons claimed to be owning land in the area in gazette notice number 97 of 2017.
“If you look at the names you will not find any of the original allottees appearing. I will write to the president asking him to form a commission of inquiry on the conduct of the commissioners who led that sitting. I will also consult the speaker of the national assembly to set up a special select committee to investigate the Chembe Kibabamche land issue, the exercise must be repeated,” he said.
He also warned assistant commissioners and chiefs to stop meddling on land matters at the two adjudication sections.
Recently Parliamentary commission on land visited Kilifi County to collect opinions from residents of Mukomani and Mafumbini villages.
