By RENSON MNYAMWEZI
The Government has so far collected more than Sh10 million from beneficiaries of recent land allocation in Taveta District.
The money has been banked at Settlement Trust Fund, according to Cabinet minister Naomi Shaban.
“As of now, payment of plots is good and we’re encouraging those who have not paid to do so to enable them get title deeds on time,” said the Taveta MP in Wundanyi, yesterday.
Dr Shaban accused some people of inciting residents not to pay for allocated plots.
“People are going round the constituency trying to frustrate Government efforts to settle the landless. They think that once the squatter issue is addressed, I will get political mileage,” said the minister.
More than 10,500 squatters were recently issued with letters of allotment. “Residents should ignore people misleading them not to pay for the plots. It is only those who will pay who will be issued with title deeds,” said Shaban. The squatters were settled on 15,000 acres of land Government bought from National Bank of Kenya (NBK) for Sh55 million.
The bank seized the vast land from former Taveta MP Basil Criticos after he allegedly failed to service a loan from Agricultural Finance Corporation. The former MP has gone to court demanding over Sh3 billion from NBK for illegally selling his 15,000-acre land.
On Thursday, while presenting cheques from Women Enterprise Fund worth over 2.8 million to 37 women groups, the minister said the Government was committed towards addressing the squatter menace in Coast region.
