The Kwale County Government has distanced itself from the recent demolition of 3,000 houses in the Gazi area of Msambweni, which followed a land ownership dispute.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani stated that the county government was not involved in the demolition and had not been consulted before the incident.
Speaking in Kwale town, Achani said the county is unaware of the land title deeds issued to residents by the national government.
The governor is now calling on the Ministry of Lands and the County Commissioner’s Office to clarify who was issued the land titles by a private investor.
Also read: More than 200 families left homeless in Gazi, Kwale County
“I want to thank President William Ruto for issuing title deeds to Kwale residents. However, the county government was not involved in that process. Now that houses have been demolished, the county is being blamed unfairly,” she said.
Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has promised a thorough investigation into the 306-acre land dispute, where residents’ houses were reportedly demolished by a group of youths under police protection.
“We will investigate the land issues and take legal action against any officers found to be involved in land grabbing,” he said.
