• The petitioners represent squatters from Mautuma Central Settlement Scheme
• They were settled on the Lugari/Turbo forest in 1992 by President Daniel Arap Moi
Image: FILE
Residents of Kakamega have petitioned the National Assembly to facilitate the de-gazettement of 1,577ha of Lugari/Turbo Forest.
They said the delay in de-gazettement is stalling other processes, such as demarcation and issuance of titles to genuine squatters.
The petitioners, representing squatters from Mautuma Central Settlement Scheme, said they have been denied their right to property and benefits that come with ownership and title to land.
The squatters of the Mautuma Central Settlement Scheme were settled on the land comprising the Lugari/Turbo forest in 1992 by the late President Daniel Arap Moi.
“As the legitimate occupiers of the said land that was set aside for us, squatters of Mautuma Central Settlement Scheme do not have the legal title for the land,” the petition states.
“This in effect exposes us to, among others, land grabbing, alien occupation and eviction.”
The petitioners said the recommendation by the Kenya Forest Service should be approved by the resolution of Parliament before the Cabinet Secretary publishes the Gazette Notice effecting the de-gazettement of forest land.
They said due process has been followed to the letter, including public participation, environmental impact assessment and approval by Cabinet.
“The Cabinet Memorandum has been forwarded to Kenya Forest Service for delivery to parliament,” they said.
The petition was signed by Mautuma Central Settlement Scheme chairman Charles Kunukha Kofia, Justus Mulati Wasike (secretary) and Fred Waswa Chonge (vice secretary).
They added that the number of squatters and their families in the scheme has been raising at an alarming rate since the first allotment of 1,577ha, causing perennial problems of overcrowding.
“A further 2,428ha has since been identified to settle the ever-growing number of squatters once and for all,” they said.
“It is, therefore, the wish of the squatters to have 2,428ha of Lugari/Turbo de-gazetted to accommodate them.”
The petitioners claimed there has been a delay in delivering its recommendation to Parliament.