Likuyani Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Mr. Peter Lotulia Ng’eleyo has issued a stern warning to individuals who have encroached on public land in the Sub County. Addressing a public baraza outside Likuyani Assistant County Commissioner (ACC’s) office, Lotulia observed that there was a high rate of grabbing of public property in the Sub County especially public land.
He stated that the law was clear and that it was not going to spare anybody found illegally possessing public property. He therefore advised those whose have grabbed public plots to vacate voluntarily or face the full wrath of the law.
“During the planning of settlement schemes and especially after independence, the government reserved public land for purposes of developing infrastructural structures in order to enhance service delivery and social well being of people living within a specific
location who are brought together on basis of ethnicity, culture or similar interests,” explained Lotulia.
Government offices, markets, schools, hospitals, churches, cattle dips, playgrounds are some of the reasons that the government reserved public land, the DCC reminded the gathering. “Therefore the government will not allow any public land meant to benefit the community to vanish in the hands of private citizens,” stated Lotulia.
The Likuyani DCC consequently directed all chiefs and assistant chiefs in the Sub County to conduct a comprehensive status report for all pieces of land that were set aside as PI plots, “To enable the government to legally address the issue with the individuals who have allegedly grabbed or encroached on public land,” added Lotulia.
He called on all respective government departments, politicians, including elected leaders and all stakeholders to help the governments reclaim and protect all public lands in the area.