By Alex Wekesa
Kanduyi MP John Makali has said that all government land illegally grabbed by individuals must be returned to the public immediately for the benefit of residents and development projects.
The MP said a report by a special land task force formed in 2019 to investigate illegally acquired public land should be tabled and quickly passed by the Bungoma County Assembly so that its recommendations can be implemented without delay.
The task force, known as the Bungoma County Land Task Force and notably led by the late Laurence Sifuna, was established in 2019 to investigate cases of grabbed public land, audit county land inventory, and recommend recovery measures to the county government.
It also focused on identifying illegal encroachments and documenting all county-owned parcels, including those with title deeds and those under dispute or unused.
Makali noted that despite the existence of such reports and recommendations, some individuals have continued to illegally occupy public land while citizens lack space for essential government development projects.
“All government land that was illegally grabbed must be returned immediately. The report of the task force led by the late Laurence Sifuna should be passed quickly and its implementation begin without delay,” said Makali.
He added that reclaiming public land would enable both county and national governments to secure land for the construction of schools, hospitals, markets, and other key development projects that directly benefit residents.
The MP further called on leaders to work together in protecting public resources and ensuring that a few individuals do not continue benefiting from illegal acquisition of government land.
Makali made the remarks on Monday while officially commissioning the new Khalaba Chief’s office, constructed at a cost of KSh4 million through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund under Kanduyi NG-CDF.
He said the new office will strengthen local administration by improving service delivery, as government officers will now have a better working environment.
Residents who attended the event praised the project, saying it will enhance service delivery, improve security coordination, and help resolve local disputes more efficiently.
The project is among several development initiatives being implemented in Kanduyi Constituency aimed at improving public services and uplifting the livelihoods of residents.
