Politicians have been exposed to be the key propagators of land grabbing.
According to Mombasa’s Likoni area OCPD Benjamin Rotich, politicians are part of cartels inciting residents to eject non-locals from their land.
Police say they believe politicians and cartels involved in land speculation have now resorted to violence and other tactics to grab land. A senior administrator moreover claimed that some of the politicians involved in the illegal land transactions were threatening to lobby for removal of Government and security officials who have stood in their way.
Meanwhile, a senior detective said he had received threats from several politicians.
“One of the politicians said I don’t know my work and that he will teach me a lesson. He told me to stop the investigations and concentrate on other issues because this is their home,” the officer said in the wake of investigations of a land scandal involving businessman Osman Ibrahim.
Ibrahim presented his caseto police, where goons invaded his 0.00443 hectare piece of land, near Shelly Beach, and erected a perimeter wall.
The businessman, who has been paying land rates of Sh18,000 annually for the property backed his case, saying he bought the land with his savings.
“I was not allocated this land by Government nor did I inherit it from anyone. It is my land, I bought it,” said Ibrahim.
Police have confirmed his claim, saying that they have actually verified his documentation.
“He (Ibrahim) was here with the land ownership documents. We verified them at the lands office and believe he has a genuine land title deed. Any other person claiming the same property must provide proof. In the meantime, the police will ensure the law is not violated,” OCPD Rotich said.
In a bid to put up a tough fight against politicians’ intimidation, the OCPD emphasised that anyone who claims ownership of land must provide proof regardless of their status.