[Source: Daily Nation, by Manase Otsialo]
Residents of Barwaqo Location in Mandera County are appealing to the ministries of Defence, Interior and that of Land to intervene and help them to reclaim their land currently occupied by security teams.
The more than 30 hectares of land is currently occupied by officers deployed to work on the Kenya-Somalia security wall project.
“We gave out our plots voluntarily in 2014 but we have come to realise that the security teams have no plans to vacate and we now want our land back,” said Mr Osman Maalim Hussein.
He said they were convinced by a government official that the stay by the security officers would be a short one.
Mr Hussein claimed that the security teams comprising of military (KDF), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), the General Service Unit (GSU) and National Youth Service (NYS) personnel have been hostile to the community.
He said digging huge bunkers by the military is degrading their land.
According to the locals, allotment letters issued by the Mandera County government are enough proof of land ownership.
County Land Executive Adan Hussein Hassan said there was no foul play when giving out the disputed land to security agencies.
A letter from the county government to some of the land owners indicated the agreement was entered on April 14, 2014.
Mr Hassan said that the project has taken longer than expected but appealed for tolerance and calm as other avenues are approached.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Manase Otsialo]
