Francis Mbutha, a resident of Makuyu whose land is set to be affected by the planned development by the government.Numerous land disputes in the Maragua constituency have sparked a tiff between MP Mary Waithera and Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.
The former friends have traded jabs in public forums over land squabbles in Makuyu and Kenol town.
In Makuyu, residents have faulted the government for dispatching a team of surveyors to re-plan 39 acres that they currently occupy.
The government plans to establish a primary and secondary school and a stadium, while parts of the land are occupied by government offices, including a police station.
The land was grabbed by councillors serving in the defunct local authorities before being sold to unsuspecting residents.
Many of the 130 occupants have developed the parcels of land while some use it for farming purposes and have called for the state to engage them in public participation before rolling out the development projects.
“We invested our money on these plots. The government cannot just take them back without compensating us,” Mary Wambui, a resident, said.
In Kenol town, thousands of landowners who are shareholders of Ngemu Land Buying Company are also in turmoil after caveats were imposed on their parcels.
The caveats that were put in place in May this year have made it impossible for them to sell or make transactions on their parcels.
James Maina, a resident, said they should have been informed on why the caveats were placed saying most find out while trying to access loans from financial institutions.
“Most of us use these properties to acquire loans to improve our lives. Without them, we’re unable to make any economic progress,” he said.
The caveats affected the economy of the area as businesses struggle to survive and residents are forced to turn to other sources of loans to support themselves.
Francis Njuki narrated how he sought financial support from a bank—only to be turned away.
Njuki said his son needed Sh850,000 for urgent surgery last month and his family frantically turned to relatives and friends for help.
“There are so many people in my situation. We buy land so it can help us in such times of need but the caveats have made that impossible,” he said.
Weeks ago, the director of physical planning in the lands ministry released a Part Development Plan (PDP) indicating how the state planned to develop the land and caught residents by surprise when surveyors were dispatched into the farms.
The MP placed the blame squarely on the CS, accusing her of breaking the law by releasing the plan without conducting public participation.
Wahome, she claimed, had painted the government in bad light by failing to follow the law and causing residents mental suffering.
“A meeting should have been held with us so we could agree on what would be contained in the PDP and we would all have supported the development. The CS should stop making decisions from her office and come to the ground so she can answer our questions,” she said.
She accused the CS of breaching the law in failing to inform residents before imposing the caveats and restricting landowners’ rights to land use through administrative action taken without following the due process.
Issues surrounding the land started when confrontations between the MP and some local youths erupted following her plans to establish government projects.
The projects include a court, ICT hub and Kenol police station quarters, which were to be established on the Kimorori grounds, situated next to the subcounty headquarters.
Although not designated, the grounds have been used by youths for sports for over a decade.
It is part of about nine acres of land donated by Ngemu land buying company to the government.
But in a rejoinder, Wahome told off the MP, noting she has continuously made unsubstantiated accusations against her since her appointment into Cabinet.
“When I was in the Water ministry, she still made similar accusations. She said I was interfering with local water firms and I didn’t respond to her but this has become too much,” Wahome said.
While visiting Kabati police station where a Sh380 million modern market is set to be established, the CS claimed Waithera’s frustration stemmed from their different views over the Kimorori grounds.
“I was summoned in the Senate to answer questions relating to the playground and I refused to allow it to be converted into government offices. I have no sympathy for her. If she wants to fight, we will fight,” Wahome said.
“Since I was appointed as the CS, it’s like she was unhappy with my appointment. She has brought me fights all the time. I didn’t get the job because of my beauty, it was because I work and deliver.”
She added that Waithera had requested President William Ruto for the construction of a Kenya Medical Training College campus.
A decision was made to have it established in Makuyu, near the affordable housing project and
surveyors were dispatched to survey the land.
“She sent surveyors away then accused me of tainting the government’s image. Between her and I, who’s frustrating government operations? She said she’s in government. You came into the government last minute in April 2022, just before elections. Some of us suffered while fighting for it,” Wahome said.
The CS further claimed the MP is fighting her over her aspirations to vie for the governorship of Murang’a, revealing that she helped nominate Waithera as an MCA when she first joined politics in 2013.
“This is someone I know but she has decided to keep fighting me. I have never attacked the MP publicly. This is the fourth or fifth time she has attacked me. I respected her. She will now know she has overstepped.”
Instant Analysis
In Makuyu, residents have faulted the government for dispatching a team of surveyors to re-plan 39 acres that they currently occupy. The government plans to establish a primary and secondary school, and a stadium while parts of the land is occupied by government offices, including a police station. In Kenol town, thousands of land owners who are shareholders of Ngemu Land Buying Company are also in turmoil after caveats were imposed on their parcels. The land disputes have seen the former friends trade jabs in public forums, with the MP placing the blame on the CS who has also accused the MP of unfairly targeting her.
