Senators have put to task the management of the National Land Commission for allegedly failing to secure land acquired for the Lapsset project.
Appearing before the Senate Land and Environment Committee, the officials were taken to task to explain why project affected persons who had already been compensated still had title deeds.
Describing NLC’s inaction as scandal in the making, the legislators claimed that the compensated individuals have been reselling their land, yet they have already been compensated by the state.
“A lot of mess is going on where already acquired land is being resold. Who will pay for that mess?” Nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla posed.
Abdalla said the affected land is within the Hindi-Magogoni Scheme, which forms part of the 500-metre-wide Lamu corridor which was gazetted in September 2021.
The lawmaker, who had petitioned the House to inquire into the saga, claimed that the Ministry of Lands continues to issue title deeds for the land already acquired.
She said people have started encroaching on the land as the commission has yet to erect beacons and carry out detailed surveys of the area.
The MP said the port area where titles have been issued covers 28,139 hectares (69,532 acres) and people were compensated at a market value of Sh1.5 million per acre.
“Why haven’t you done the full acquisition and compensation to the people? This is pure negligence and is something that is not acceptable,” she said.
Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma asked NLC officials to confirm there are such cases where land already compensated for is being sold.
Nominated Senator Beatrice Oyomo asked NLC chairperson Gershom Otachi to explain why they are not aware of the saga.
She alleged collusion, saying there was no way the Lands ministry was not aware that the land they were issuing title deeds for had already been acquired and compensation paid.
“How is that even possible? Unless there is a big racket or collusion within the NLC and the ministry,” she said.
Otachi told the Nyandarua Senator John Methu-led committee that he is not aware of such cases but will follow up with the Ministry of Lands.
But NLC Commissioner Alister Murimi said, “It is possible that it could be happening but we will write to the Lands registrar to stop any process on that land.”
However, the NLC boss explained that PAPs, with the exception of those who had pending issues such as succession and disputes, have been compensated.
Otachi stated the process to acquire the 500m wide corridor is ongoing and the commission has completed inspection of the entire corridor from Lamu to Lokichar in Turkana county.
Public inquiries are ongoing and have so far been undertaken within the Hindi Magogoni Scheme in Lamu, Garissa, Isiolo and Turkana counties, he said.
