Kilifi squatters protest delayed NLC report

KENYA: Thousands of squatters in Kilifi town Wednesday took to the streets accusing the National Land Commission (NLC) of delaying to release a report on over 230 acres at Kiwandani.

The squatters are in a dispute with a private developer who has laid claim to the Kiwandani land.

They marched to Governor Amason Kingi's office demanding that NLC makes public the findings of the report.

In December last year, NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri promised to release the report on January 15 but the date has since passed without him making good his promise.

Efforts by the Kilifi County Lands Executive John Mazuri to address the demonstrators on behalf of Mr Kingi, who was out of the county, failed.

Mr Mazuri hinted that he had received a communication from NLC confirming that it had concluded the investigation and that the report was ready.

"The information I have is that NLC has completed the investigation and the report is set to be read before the squatters by the commission chairman soon," said Mazuri.

But the squatters through the Nayeni Squatters Committee Secretary, Mattaza Kilumo, insisted that they would camp at the Governor's office.

"We are not listening to anybody apart from Governor Kingi. We will camp here until he comes," said Mr Kilumo

Swazuri's representatives last December had told the squatters that the probe was complete and findings were to be read to them between January 7 and 15.