[Source: The Standard, by Wainaina Ndung’u]
The county government has filed its response in a case involving individuals claiming plots in Mwangaza, near the Isiolo International Airport.
County Chief Officer for Lands and Planning Rashid Mude Arale filed a three page affidavit in the Lands and Environment court in Meru.
Mr Arale declared that land ownership in Mwangaza was sensitive, with some residents holding ownership documents, while others had physically settled in plots in a manner that could be considered illegal.
The affidavit is filed in the case involving Mwangaza Legal Plot Owners Self Help Group, against the Attorney General, National Land Commission, the Isiolo County Government, and the Kenya Airports Authority.
“Petitioners, especially those under the Mwangaza Legal Plot Owners, have genuine land ownership documents. However, their land has been occupied by other people,” said Arale in his three-page affidavit.
He noted that Mwangaza Legal Plot Owners could be given alternative land as an option to bring calm in the volatile area.
He confirmed to the court that titling of land in Isiolo town under the Rapid Results Initiative had started.
Arale warned that any plans to interfere with the titling exercise was likely to cause bloodshed, and would be bad for the local economy.
He pointed to the court the fact that Isiolo was an important Vision 2030 city, whose progress would be dependent on the processing of land ownership documents.
The court will next hear the matter on May 21.
[Full article: The Standard, by Wainaina Ndung’u]
