Busia County Commissioner John Korir yesterday (Thursday) led other government officials in inspecting the Bungoma – Malaba railway line where he insisted that any person who has encroached on public land should leave in peace to allow for the expansion of the railway line.
The exercise involved inspecting the areas where the railway line was initially started to it’s end where it was discovered that Wananchi had actually not encroached on public land as it was earlier feared.
The Commissioner, who was in the company of national railway officials, members of the fourth estate and security officers, was grateful to some of the worried residents who presented documents indicating that they lawfully owned parcels of land along the railway line.
‘’Am particularly pleased with these residents. This shows that the level of ignorance among residents has really gone down which is something to be happy about.” He said. “We also want to assure residents that government will treat those who would have ignorantly encroached on public land in a humane manner and not through force.’’
Korir, however, asked railway officials from the headquarters to send land surveyors to the ground to ensure no stone is untouched before full exercise of railway expansion commences