STATEMENT BY UHURU KENYATTA ON THE LAMU LAND ALLOCATIONS, 31 JULY 2014 My Fellow Kenyans, My government is committed to securing the dignity, well being and property of every Kenyan without fear or favor. While in Lamu, Idirected the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development to carry out a comprehensive audit of the land allocations in Lamu County. This audit is now complete and has revealed shocking details. We have established that between 2011 and 2012, on the eve of our General Elections, almost 300,000 acres of public land, which is approximately 50% of land within Lamu County available for settlement and other productive purposes, was alienated to 22 private entities under dubious and corrupt circumstances. While a few used illegal means for their own gain, the many thousands of families living in this County occupy only 70% of the land available for settlement and production. We have established that this alienation was not done in accordance with the principles underpinning land management in the Constitution of Kenya nor the laws regulating public land alienation at the time. This criminal conspiracy has dispossessed individuals and families living in this region of their land and opportunities for improving their well being. It has also helped fuel the current insecurity being experienced in the region, and frustrated our efforts in building cohesion in the country. My Fellow Kenyans, For far too long this pattern of mismanagement of our public resources has resulted in the dispossession, strife and poverty of Kenyans. The level of impunity revealed by the audit is unprecedented, untenable and unacceptable. In light of the foregoing, I now direct the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the National Land Commission to revoke and repossess these land parcels with immediate effect. I further call upon the Inspector General of Police and the Criminal Investigation Department to commence investigations with a view to bringing to account all persons who were involved in this criminal enterprise without exception. Thank you. God bless you and God bless Kenya.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:35:47 +0000
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