Odhiambo Orlale
7 October 2008
Nairobi — The Government has spent Sh1.8 billion to buy land to settle squatters in the Coast and other parts of the country.
Lands assistant minister Gonzi Rai told Parliament on Tuesday that the funds were released to the ministry to buy 11 farms in Coast, Eastern, Central, Rift Valley and Nyanza provinces.
The 11 include the controversial farm in Kilifi District, which was owned by former Taveta MP and assistant minister Basil Criticos. It cost Sh55 million.
The other farms include former Defence minister, Mr Njenga Karume's parcel in Molo bought at Sh53 million.
Others are Kivulini and Highlands farm (Sh169 million); Ramisi Sugar farm in Coast Province (Sh64 million); Gethecha in Kilifi District (Sh33.1 million); Edward Lenjo's Mombasa farm (Sh85 million) and Tiwi Beach farm in Kwale District (Sh28.5 million).
Staggering
The Government spent a staggering Sh1.27 billion on Solio Ranch in the Rift Valley and Sh39 million and Sh69.6 million for Chakama Ranch I and II in Malindi.
Answering a question by Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti, PNU), the assistant minister said: "Since the financial years 2002-2003 to 2007-2008, a total of Sh1.9 billion has been allocated to the ministry to purchase farms. Eleven farms have been bought at a total of Sh1.8 billion."
Mr Rai, who is the MP for Kinango, told the PNU MP that since independence 106 squatter settlement schemes had been established covering 81,027.5 hectares to cater for 22,395 squatters some of who are expected to be settled in the current financial year.
The assistant minister said the programme was ongoing with nine farms under demarcation and survey covering 45,291 hectares for an estimated 15,148 squatters.
Mr Rai tabled a full list of the schemes in Coast Province, they were in Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa and Taita districts.
Meanwhile, the Water Development minister, Mrs Charity Ngilu, said Sh250 million had been allocated in the current financial year for a new dam at Miwongoni to serve Machakos Town residents.
She was answering a question by Dr Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town, ODM-K), who had claimed that vendors were supplying the residents with untreated water due to the shortage.
The minister also said they will rehabilitate the water supply centres in Machakos at Sh6.5 million to reduce the residents' dependence on water vendors.
Answering another question, Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny told Dr Wilbur Ottichilo (Emuhaya, ODM) that two schools in the area had not had their books audited since 2002.
But the assistant minister said that seven other schools in the area had been audited since 2006, while 13 others had submitted their books to the District Education Officer where they were being audited.
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