Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire sent her delegates to a 73-year-old granny's home to solve a land case after she publicised the matter in a newspaper notice.
The delegation led by Raymond Kinyua, County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Lands and Urban Development, arrived at Zainab Ramadhan Njoka's home in Kirimari Ward on Thursday, August 10.
Mbarire tasked the team with ascertaining whether one of their staff had encroached into the Njoka's plot as claimed by the widow.
The widow drafted a letter to the governor, which was printed in a local daily, after her efforts to settle the matter amicably via the National Lands Commission (NLC) failed. She thus resorted to outsmarting the county official by paying for the newspaper advert, hence heaping pressure on the county government to act.
Nonetheless, CEC Kinyua, after touring her home dismissed her claims and refuted reports alleging that some county officers were aiding and abetting their colleague to fence a road accessing her home.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, August 10 Kinyua, who spoke on behalf of Mbarire, argued that the granny's home could be accessed by three roads contrary to her allegations.
“No one has been marooned. No one has been blocked and no one is asking for access. You have all been here with me. The owner here has access to three roads so is it that they are asking for a fourth access to the road. In fact, others could be the ones asking her for access,” Kinyua differed with the granny.
One of the roads, the CEC claimed, was well-developed with bitumen, the second could be accessed via Dallas Ring Road and the third branched into the backside of her plot.
He, however, confirmed that one of the roads was fenced to allow the construction of a public hall adjusted to her parcel of land.
By his account, the wall was constructed after the ratification of recommendations drafted in a 2015 public participation engagement forum.
The CEC requested the lady to desist from making unjustified claims he argued were tarnishing the name and reputation of Governor Mbarire and also urged her to visit his office to clear the misunderstandings.
On his part, Ibrahim Swaleh, the Deputy Speaker of Embu County Assembly and Kirimari Ward MCA, pledged to protect land owners from grabbers.
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