Mombasa County government has reiterated that the planned Miritini Industrial park project construction will proceed despite locals outrage over the long land tussle in the area.
According to Mombasa Lands, Housing and Urban renewal County Executive Committee Member Mohammed Hussein Mohammed, the two parcels of land in the area are rightfully owned by the County Government and not the locals.
Though Mohammed says the County government has no any intentions of evicting the families living in the 301 acre parcels of land, it is working towards resettling the affected families so that the mega project can commence.
Speaking recently in Mombasa, Mr Mohammed (Amadoh) noted that the County government is in possession of the title deeds of the two parcels of land, an indication that it is the rightfully owner of the lands.
Mohammed however, said that none of the affected families will be evicted from the public land.
“We as the county government we own the land and we have all the relevant documents confirming that indeed the land in question belongs to us,” he reiterated.
The Lands CECM however, revealed that the land is enough to accommodate the affected families and the commercial flagship project as well.
He said the lands department has already engaged a section of residents who agreed to be resettled on a specific side of the land, however, some have rejected the offer.
“To avert any further tussles over the ownership of this land, we have decided to accommodate all the affected families and resettle them with the dignity they deserve. However, we are still engaging the rest so that the process is conducted smoothly and in humane manner,” Mohammed further disclosed.
However, human rights lobby Haki Yetu Programs Officer John-Paul Obonyo says the county government circumvented the genuine process as the land belongs to the locals.
Mr Obonyo noted that locals have been fighting for the ownership of the two parcels of land for years, but the county government used dubious means to acquire the land.
“We want the county government of Mombasa to come out clear on this matter. Why didn’t they engage the locals from the onset of the process? What makes the families occupying the two pieces of land reject any further deliberations with the county government? We need these questions answered,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Obonyo is challenging the County Lands CECM to state to Mombasa County residents, investors, stakeholders and the Civil society the land management strategy of the entire Mombasa county.
