Ruto Revokes Titles Of Those Who Have Not Developed Athi River Land [VIDEO]

President Ruto chased away speculators who have been holding land without developing, and moved the ownership of the parcels to EPZ

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Oct 13, 2023 - 12:37 Updated: Oct 13, 2023 - 13:18
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Ruto Revokes Titles Of Those Who Have Not Developed Athi River Land [VIDEO]
President William Ruto speaking at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC on September 5, 2023. /PCS

President William Ruto has ordered the Ministry of Lands to revoke the title deeds of those who have not developed land in the Athi River for more than 10 years.

Speaking while launching Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya at the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Athi River, President Ruto chased away speculators who have been holding land without developing and moved the ownership of the parcels to EPZ.

"We want to chase away those fraudsters who have grabbed land and don't want to do anything with it, they are waiting to sell to others and to do speculation, now we have told them to close shop and go away," Ruto ordered.

He also directed that part of the land that was grabbed from the East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) and which the court directed be returned to the company should also have its ownership shifted to EPZ.

Furthermore, Ruto directed that about 1,000 acres should be transferred from EAPCC to EPZ to enable the government's efforts to expand the facility. 

"I have given clear instructions to the management here that all speculators, people who have held titles to pieces of land for 10, 15, 20, 30 years without developing them should be revoked so that we can give it to people who want to use this facility," he said. 

Ruto further praised efforts to reclaim an additional 250 acres of land from speculators with the goal of bringing additional pieces of land and additional space into the manufacturing space in EPZ, Athi River.

"We have now been cleared by the courts on the land that is adjacent to EPZ that belongs to Portland Cement. My instructions are we will take either 1,000 or 1,500 of that land and make it part of EPZ so that we can create more space for more companies to set camp in Kenya," he went on.

The directive is likely to spark fresh battles between the government and squatters who themselves have frustrated the cement factory for years in messy legal battles.

Ruto also noted that the government was working hard to establish five more Special Economic Zones in Sagana, Thika, Nakuru, Eldoret and Busia in the first phase, which would make it easier for investors to set up companies in the country through the areas to grow their exploits.

"I implore companies setting up camp in Kenya to look at the opportunities that exist in the East African community where we have close to 400 million people and to look at the opportunities in COMESA and look at combined opportunities in the Continent," he appealed.

President Ruto also addressed the issue of water shortage that has been hitting hard Athi River residents and directed the matter to be addressed conclusively.

"It was brought to my attention that the residents are facing challenges in accessing water so I have given orders to the Ministry of Water to ensure the Northern Collector Tunnel engaged in its construction is completed.

"We are at the tail end and working on a dedicated pipeline to Athi River so that residents and companies have access to support manufacturing in this space," he noted.

Aerial view of homes in Athi River. /BUSINESS DAILY

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