Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has warned residents against scaring away investors. He said investors' projects will create employment.
Kingi was speaking yesterday in Langobaya division where he had called a meeting to end tensions over a proposed international airport at Weru Ranch.
He said he had received a letter from the National Land Commission following complaints by a section of ranch members that they were being intimidated into parting with their land by the county government.
“I urge all to work together with the county government for it to be respected or else there is risk of underdevelopment," Kingi said.
He said Malindi MP Dan Kazungu and others who opposed the project were scaring away investors. “I am not the one who ordered the investors to choose Weru ranch," Kingi said.
The NLC vice chair Abigael Mbagaya-Mokolwe said it is the mandate of the public to raise land issues. However, she said, the commission is supposed to work with the county government on all land issues.
Mokolwe warned Weru ranch members against fighting, saying they risk losing the title deed. A representative of the MP had earlier said members who are not from Langobaya will not be allowed to get a share of the ranch if it is subdivided as it belongs to the "indigenous locals".
Mokolwe however clarified that all 300 ranch members have equal shares and the right to get land during subdivision.
Trouble began when Dutch investors identified the ranch as the best location for the airport, sparking a row between the governor and the MP.
Recently, some members of the ranch approached Kingi for funds to subdivide the ranch. He promised to allocate Sh1 million from the county kitty.
Kazungu did not receive this well, as it is said he felt the county government was trying to force the ranch members to accept the airport project.