Lamu Land Row Threatens to Become Full Blown Conflict, Says MP

Speaking at the Manda Primary School grounds on Saturday, Ndegwa said he has had to intervene on several occasions as tempers flared between two opposing sides, one supporting the re-allocation of the Manda settlement scheme proposed by Governor Issa Timamy and the other opposed to the move.

Two weeks ago, Timamy led a delegation of officials, including commissioners from the National Lands Commission (NLC), KAA, national and county government officials where they promised Manda Airport land owners four acres each to vacate the airport and move to the Manda Settlement Scheme, which will be re-allocated.

The proposal elicited sharp reactions, with the landowners terming it as malicious and a ploy to take their land, which they have owned since before independence.

“There have been several attempts to evict us forcefully, we went to court on November 7, 2013 and on April 24, 2015 and the court ruled that the titles allocated to Manda residents are legitimate,” said one resident.

Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa called on KAA to compensate the people of Manda airport like those whose land is taken for development purposes, while ensuring that they get their parcels surveyed in their current acreages instead of the disputed four acres.  

Ndegwa added that this was an emotive issue and tensions were running high, urging Timamy to follow the will of the people and calling on National Lands Commission (NLC) chairman Mohamed Swazuri to urgently handle the issue.