Mombasa County G’ovt not consulted on Waitiki land fees – official

The County Government of Mombasa has claimed that it was not consulted in the decision by the government, through the Lands ministry, to impose fees on the beneficiaries of Waitiki land in Likoni, Mombasa.

The Waitiki Settlement Squatter Programme coordinator, Mr Joseph Kanyiri, said each of the squatters are required to pay Sh184,000 within three years.

Kanyiri said that the owner of the 930-acre piece of land, Mr Evanson Waitiki, had written to the Mombasa County Government seeking a waiver on accrued land rates over a period of 18 years, a claim that was confirmed by Anthony Njaramba, Mombasa Acting Lands Executive.

Njambara however expressed shock at the Sh184,000 fee that the beneficiaries are required to pay, saying that he was not aware.

He added that he was not opposed to the process but stated that he was unhappy with how it was being handled.

“We have been following up this matter since it started but we were not told that those occupying the land would be required to pay anything,” he said.

This comes two days before President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to issue over 5000 title deeds to the squatters.

The land which has been the subject of numerous litigation processes since 1977 pitting Evans Kamau, also known as Waitiki, and other claimants finally reached a resolution through President Uhuru Kenyatta after he signed a framework agreement with Waitiki to establish a road map for the adjudication and titling of all the land to current occupants.