A section of Murang’a County residents under the umbrella of the Kandara Residents Association on Sunday, June 18, rejected a plan to have an affordable housing program anchored on a 1400-acre piece of land they are staking their claim on.
The land was ceded by a multi-national fruit company after over a decade-long legal battle.
In 2021, the Parliamentary Lands Committee noted that the association should be given 70 per cent of the land with the other going to Murang’a County Government.
In a twist of events, the county government decided to use the land to build a Level 5 Hospital, host the Affordable Housing Programme, a bus park and a slate of other social amenities.
Led by their Chairperson Geoffrey Kairu, they noted that they did not want President William Ruto’s legacy to be established on their land.
Kairu further called for an out-of-court settlement with the county government on subdividing the land.
“The case is in the Court of Appeal so no construction should be ongoing. Murang’a County Government, Kandara Residents Association and the Ministry of Lands should agree on what should be done,” Kairu pleaded for an out-of-court settlement.
One of the Association members remarked that they were being shortchanged by the promise of the amenities.
“We need our 70 per cent and nothing will go on here. We have even declined the proposed hospital,” she noted.
She quickly added that the area was in need of a hospital but should not be done at the expense of squatters waiting on the subdivision of the land.
On Monday, May 29, the association pleaded with Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to make sure they got their rightful share.
“As an association, we successfully petitioned the Parliament and in court to be allocated the land in 2021.
“We are begging our leaders led by Wahome and the current Parliament to help implement the recommendations by last administration’s Parliamentary Lands Committee,” they begged then.
