Genuine Maungu-Buguta settlement scheme squatters displaced, claims an MCA

New team to probe allocation of land [Photo courtesy]

The county assembly has formed an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged illegal allocation of land at the disputed Maungu-Buguta Settlement Scheme.

In a Motion that paved way for formation of the team, Marungu MCA Paul Kang’ethe said some individuals were illegally allocated land by the national government at the settlement scheme, displacing genuine squatters.

Tabling the Motion in the assembly yesterday, Mr Kang’ethe said the settlement process was tampered with to suit some individuals. The Motion was passed.

“Part of the scheme was extended to a private land in Msharinyi. Titles numbering 3101 to 3129 were awarded to other people while they already have existing owners. We want to know how the 28 contested beneficiaries got land and who drew the map,” he said.

Speaker Meshack Maganga gave the nine-member committee 21 days to investigate the alleged anomaly and table a report.

Maungu residents recently called for revocation of a proposed development plan of Maungu Township.

The residents claimed the 2008 Part Development Plan was illegal, as it was not approved by the defunct Taita Taveta County Council.

The petitioners now want a new plan drawn to accommodate more people in the cosmopolitan town.

They accused the Maungu Town Plot Association leadership of corruption and favouritism in allocating the land.

In a petition presented to the county assembly, the residents claimed of the 1,827 registered members, 600 had not been allocated their plots. “The members were not involved in decision making when the proposed plan was being formulated,” they said.