Hope for squatters as National Land Commission rules out extension of Criticos lease

Taita-Taveta, Kenya: Thousands of squatters living on the controversial 3,000-acre Machungwani farm owned by former Taveta MP Basil Criticos will be settled on the land, National Land Commission (NLC) has said.

NLC ruled out the possibility of extending Criticos' 99-year land lease which expired in January this year.

Clement Lenachuru, a commissioner with the NLC, said Criticos had not put the land to proper use as intended hence his lease will not be renewed.

"Criticos cannot justify renewal of the lease because the land had been lying idle for years. Renewal will depend on what the owner has done with the land. The NLC has warned idle land will not be renewed," Mr Lenachuru said.

Speaking in Mwatate town on Saturday, Lenachuru said the commission will meet next week and decide on Criticos' lease extension application.

The former MP's land woes deepened recently when an estimated 5,000 people invaded his farm after the lease expired.

STATE PROPERTY

In a recent interview, Criticos claimed he was a victim of racism and blamed local politicians for inciting the squatters to invade his land. He also accused the Government of failing to protect his property.

He says he has been tortured psychologically and emotionally following the invasion of his farm.

"I am unable to farm in my land due to hostile squatters. The District Land Control Board is yet to give me consent to sub-divide my land for sale, with the invaders to be given first priority as directed by the High Court," said Criticos.

Families of the third generation's Greek immigrants who have settled in the region own majority of the farms with a combined acreage of 200,000, which is about 18 per cent of the total county land area.

On Saturday, Lenachuru said the lease for the land expired in January and is now State property.

"The land could be resurveyed and there is high possibility that squatters will be settled on it," he said.