National Land Commission asks for time to reach verdict on disputed 5,000 acres land in Kilifi

Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi (right) and National Land Commission deputy chairman Abigael Mbagaya. They were addressing squatters over disputed parcels of land in Kilifi County. [PHOTO: JOSEPH MASHA/STANDARD]

National Land Commission (NLC) has asked for six months to investigate two disputed parcels of land in Kilifi County.

Commission's deputy chairman Abigael Mbagaya was heckled and booed by enraged squatters who said six months is a long period. Squatters and private developers have locked horns in the dispute.

The parcels of land in question measure 260 and 5,000 acres in acres in Nayeni and Ihaleni regions respectively.

Mbagaya, who addressed squatters from the two regions, said the period was convenient and promised that the commission will give feedback after the period.

"My commission needs six months from now to gather information and documents that will help us investigate and establish the genuine owners of the disputed land and reach a verdict," she said after a 3-hour closed door meeting with Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.

She addressed squatters also at Karisa Maitha Sports Grounds in Kilifi.

"The disputed land facing the people of Nayeni and Ihaleni in Kilifi is a historical land problem and to tackle it better, the commission needs more time," she said and called on both parties to be patient.

Kingi cautioned the commission not to be influenced by powerful people in reaching a verdict and supported the six-month period sought by the NLC.

"The six months requested by the commission to investigate and give verdict to this matter is enough. I hope the commission will come with conclusive answers to this problem," said Kingi.

The meeting came a day after police allegedly detained 63 squatters from Nayeni for alleged trespass on one of the properties.

Nayeni squatters committee chairman Baraka Thoya said local people are willing to wait for six months but added that private developers laying claim to the disputed property should stop the development developing them.