Probe into ‘Grabbed’ Mutunduri Market Land begins

The County Assembly of Embu is seeking to establish from the National Land Commission the status of a 1.62-hectare public land parcel registration number: Ngandori/Kirigi/2035 at Mutunduri market.

Speaker Josiah Thiriku directed Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma to write to the National Land Commission within the next seven days to establish the actual ownership position of the land, after Ruguru-Ngandori MCA Muturi Mwombo claimed the land had been grabbed.

In a communication read on his behalf by Temporary Speaker Sicily Warue (Nominated MCA), Thiriku also asked the Clerk to seek from the County department of lands, Embu land registrar, Embu County Physical Planner and the County surveyor, the approved/existing Development Plans of the land in question and list of the bonafide beneficiaries if any within seven days.

The Speaker’s communication added that former Lands County Executive Committee (CEC) Member Josphat Kithumbu, while appearing before the Assembly Lands Committee admitted on oath that the land was initially held by Native Land Trust Board and later by the defunct Embu Municipal Council.

Survey

Kithumbu further acknowledged that the Municipal Council surveyed, planned and allocated the market land to private individuals. He also declared that no individual person, group or organisation had ever challenged the allocations nor applied for revocation of the said allocations to the private individuals.

However, Speaker Thiriku now wants the Office of the Clerk to within seven days, seek documentary evidence from the County Department of Lands, to authenticate surveying, allotment and allocation of the Mutunduri market public land to private individuals as alluded to by the then CEC Member for Lands.

This evidence includes, but is not limited to: copies of allotment letters and allocation letters by the defunct Municipal Council. The Speaker finally ordered that the responses so gathered be forwarded to Committee on Lands to investigate legality of all the undertakings/dealings on the land parcel.

The Lands Committee chaired by Nginda MCA John Gicovi Gatumu will then write a report, making appropriate recommendations to the County Assembly for adoption.

The area MCA nonetheless wants the ongoing construction of a petrol station by the private developer claiming legitimate ownership of the land halted immediately.

Muturi also stated that he had obtained a survey map of Kibugua market dated 22 June 2021 showing the measurements of the Mutunduri market land, adding that the disputed parcel was also captured in the ‘Ndung’u Land Report’.

STORY BY MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT