Resolve squatter problem in Mwatate

Despite Taita-Taveta County being blessed with vast tracts of fertile land, majority of local residents are still living as squatters on fragmented patches of unproductive land while thousands of acres of our ancestral land is occupied by large sisal farms, ranches and national parks.

Although it is proper for investors to own and develop land for the economic benefits of our county, this should not be at the expense and sacrifice of locals’ interests.

Economic empowerment of locals should involve owning economically viable pieces of land both for settlement and agriculture. However, since independence, Taita-Taveta people are still suffering because of lack of land.

When Jubilee leaders came to power, one of their key pledges was to address the squatter problem in the country, more so in the Coast region. It’s our sincere belief that our good Government is for the peoples’ economic empowerment, not landless paupers who live on handouts and relief food because of lack of land.

{Mnjala Mwaluma, Mwatate}