Stop Eviction of Squatters in Malindi, MP Amina Mnyazi Demands

By Julius Mwabonje

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi has warned security personnel being used by developers or tycoons to evict squatters from parcels of lands in disputes saying the government was in the process of addressing them.

According to her the government has begun the process of acquiring land to settle squatters through allocation of billions of shillings, therefore, it was wrong for squatters to be evicted and their properties destroyed.

Speaking at Goshi area of Kakuyuni Ward in her constituency during the ground breaking ceremony of chief’s office, the legislator said any security forces used to evict squatters forcefully or used facilitate demolitions would be not be tolerated, but dealt with individually.

“Locals here will not be harassed. If there is a court order, it’s you the police who are supposed to implement. The security team and I have told you no house of a squatter should be demolished,” she said.

The MP added that leaders would not be pushed for the acquisition of land to resettle squatters, then evictions and demolitions were effected.

She cautioned squatters against invading private land with the hope that they would be settled there.

The lawmaker told the land owners whose land was being occupied by squatters to list themselves with the government so as to be incorporated in the parcels of land acquisition project to end the landless conflicts.

Malindi assistant county commissioner (ACC) Irene Munyoki who was present during the ceremony urged residents to stay where they were and stop invading private land just because they have heard the government plans to acquire land to settle squatters.

“The parcels of land which the government want to acquire are those with squatters who have been there for many years, and it’s a process we are doing with the office of the MP. We are cooperating, working together and agreeing on the parcels of lands that have been occupied by squatters for long,” she said.

The ACC stressed that there was no need for land owners to go to court to obtain court orders to evict people because the government led by President William Ruto was in the process of acquiring the land to settle the squatters and resolve the matter amicably.

Goshi chief Naftali Birya appealed to the MP to push for acquisition of four large parcels of land in his location so as to settle squatters.