The Mombasa government’s decision to buy the 930-acre Waitiki Farm was legal and correct, Governor Hassan Joho’s administration has said. “This was not the governor’s declaration. He sought permission from the county assembly. It is binding on any government that will take over,” director of communications Richard Chacha said.
A week ago, the county assembly passed a bill authorising the county government to pay the national government Sh1.25 billion for the farm. “It will be paid for 23 years,” Chacha said on the phone. More than 7,000 squatters live on the land.
10,000 votes
The decision has, however, been criticised by politicians and civil society groups. Nyali MP Hezron Awiti said it is meant to give Joho political mileage. “... the county is being plunged into a serious financial mess,” he said.
But Chacha criticised Awiti for politicising projects meant to improve lives. He said the county is cushioning the poor squatters from the Sh182,000 they are required to pay to acquire title deeds. “These people are poor and cannot raise the money asked for. That is why the county government stepped in to offset that burden,” Chacha said.
In January, President Uhuru Kenyatta gave the squatters allotment letters but said they must pay Sh182,000 to get permanent title deeds. The money, which will carter for the purchasing, survey and planning costs, will be paid over three years.
There are claims the county government has bought the farm to retain the Likoni parliamentary seat. The Waitiki Farm makes up three quarters of Likoni. Following the March mass voter registration, the area now has close to 70,000 votes. “Joho believes that by committing to buy the land, he already has more than 10,000 votes intact,” a source told the Star.
The source from Joho’s political circle said the governor is disturbed by Jubilee’s growing popularity, which threatens to cost the opposition the seat it so easily won in 2013. The source said Joho wants to counter the Jubilee wave, which surged during Uhuru’s long stay at the Coast in December and January. The insider said it is believed that once the purchase is announced, many residents will turn against Jubilee and area MP Masoud Mwahima.
“It was not about Joho’s re-election, it is about the Likoni seat. The governor believes if [woman representative Mishi] Mboko wins, then he has automatic votes,” the insider said. Mwahima was elected on the ODM ticket but he has switched to Jubilee and declared his support for Uhuru next year. ODM is said to be planning to front Mboko. It is also said to be in talks with former MP Suleiman Shakombo.
“His [Joho] philanthropic move can attract thrice the intact votes. Remember the 7,000 heads that are set to get freehold titles have family members who are eligible voters,” political analyst Robert Aswani from Technical University of Mombasa said.
