Trans Nzoia County Lands Executive Janerose Nasimiyu Mutama, on Tuesday, led a team of the land taskforce in reclaiming over 10 acres of land grabbed at the Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale town.
The stadium’s construction had been hindered by the illegal occupation of the land.
But speaking after reclaiming the grabbed piece of land, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) said, “We have been here several times and had requested the persons who had encroached into the stadium land to vacate, but none of them came forward. That’s why we have resolved to forcefully evict them.”
After the county issued a notice of vacation, many residents vacated voluntarily.
However, the county had to intervene to remove the remaining occupants who had not vacated by the deadline.
The eviction will enable the construction of the stadium, subsequently, promoting sports activities in the county, especially among the youth.
Not relent
The CECM warned those still occupying public land around the stadium that the government would go after them.
On his part, the vice-chairperson of the task force, Kipkoech Arap Mutai, and a member of the task force, Cynthia Wamukota, also warned land grabbers in the county that the government would not relent on its efforts to secure public land.
They urged anyone with documentation on illegally acquired land parcels to submit them to the task force before it was too late.
Hospital ward Member of the County Assembly (MCA) who doubles up as the Trans Nzoia County Assembly minority leader Eric Wafula, reiterated their support for the initiative.
He said all illegally acquired land in the county would be recovered for public use.
The MCA further noted that some land in his ward was meant for public utilities but had been illegally acquired by private developers.
The minority leader added that all grabbed land must be brought back to the rightful owners, who are the Trans Nzoia residents.
Meanwhile, the Land Chief Officer, Philip Kaptein, said Governor George Natembeya’s administration is committed to restoring all grabbed land across the county.
“The county is facing many challenges in acquiring land for public use when individuals are sitting on public land,” said Kaptein who emphasized that this would not be tolerated.
