Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu announced that the county government plans to give away land to needy residents.
Waititu announced, on Jamhuri Day, that part of the 635 acres surrendered to his government by Delmonte would be used to settle squatters and slum dwellers from Kiandutu, Matharau, Gachagi and Umoja slums.
“We must give part of the land to the people. Six hundred acres is a very big parcel of land. Even if we put public utilities and industries on a 100 acres, we will still have a lot of land remaining. There will be no need of keeping the remaining one and landless people with children are here,” Waititu stated.
The county boss vowed that public participation would be done to ensure fairness and effectiveness.
National Land Commission Chairperson (NLC) Abigael Mbagaya has, however, opposed the move, claiming that the land was meant for public use only.
“That land is not for Kiambu County, it becomes public land and it has been planned for. According to the law, the land cannot be used for private purposes,” Mbagaya explained.
The land has been the subject of controversy after Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni waMuchomba filed a complaint with the National Land Commission regarding the deal.
She demanded an explanation on how the deal between the juice maker and the county government was arrived at and the actual acreage surrendered
Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina alleged that the total acreage surrendered was about 1,000 acres.
During the signing of the agreement, Waititu stated that 200 acres of the surrendered land would be reserved for an airstrip while 20 acres would be used as a cemetery.