Makenzi does not own Shakahola land, says PS

Lands and Physical Planning PS Nixon Korir when he appeared before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Shakahola deaths at Parliament on Monday, July 10, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

There are no government records to show controversial preacher Paul Makenzi owns 800 acres in Shakahola, Kilifi County, according to Lands and Physical Planning PS Nixon Korir.

Mr Korir who, on Monday, July 10, appeared before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating Shakahola deaths, revealed that the government allocated the 100,000 acres parcel of land to Chakama Ranching Company Limited in December 1985.

The Principal Secretary told the committee that the land was registered as grant No. CR.17458 for a term of 45 years which was later subdivided into two parcels of 20, 452.42 acres and 30,003.54 acres with a section of the land transferred to New Agricultural Limited in 1988.

"The Settlement Fund Trustee purchased LR No. 13472/5 and LR No.13472/6 from the Chakama Ranching Company Limited for purposes of settlement of squatters with Chakama Settlement Scheme Phase 1 undertaken on L.R. No 13472 with survey and demarcation work commencing on March 27, 2009, and completed on May 18, 2012," said Korir.

Beneficiaries being approved

He noted that a total of 1,090 parcels of land, each measuring 15 acres were surveyed with the list of beneficiaries being approved through the District Settler Selection Committee meeting held on May 18, 2012, and the land was registered and titles issued on September 24, 2012.

Korir told the committee that the Chakama Settlement Scheme Phase was planned and undertaken L.R No. 13472/5 with the survey and demarcation work commencing on June 6, 2014, and was completed on December 10, 2016, with a total of 1,808 plots each measuring 7.5 acres surveyed.

The PS said the list of beneficiaries was approved through the District Settler Selection Committee and title deeds were issued on May 18, 2017.

"A team of surveyors from the Ministry of Lands is currently on the ground working with investigative agencies looking into the matter, we have already established that the unfortunate events took place with L.R No. 13472/7 & 8," said Korir.