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Lands

Dr. Sonia Nzilani Leads Konza Technopolis Buffer Zone Planning

Makueni’s Executive Committee Member for Lands and Urban Planning Dr. Sonia Nzilani on Thursday chaired a multi-agency technical team sitting in Naivasha to develop an Inter –County Buffer Zone Physical and Land Use Development Plan around the 10 km radius Konza Technopolis buffer area. The buffer area spreads across Makueni, Kajiado and Machakos.
The team comprises of surveyors, physical planners and environmentalists from Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, Konza Technopolis Development Authority and Ministry of Lands and Urban Planning.
The proposed 10-year plan is intended to align the Technopolis development plan with that of the 10km buffer zone so as to create a symbiotic growth. The plan will also enhance investments attraction as the buffer area complements development at the Technopolis.
Some of the key strategic installations suggested for the buffer area include an Airport, health facilities, light industries, green spaces, water dams, University College (completion of Scott University) among others.
When completed, validated and approved by the three county assemblies, the plan will be implemented by the national government, the three county governments and other development stakeholders as envisioned in the plan.
Makueni’s Devolution CECM Japheth Mang’oka, Lands and Urban Planning CECM Machakos Phillip Kilonzo as well as CEC’s from Kajiado also participated in the event.
 
 
 
 
 

Makueni To Plant 1.2M Trees by 2026

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday led Makueni residents in celebrating International Day of Forests by spearheading restoration of Mbitini location tree cover. The area has for years witnessed formation of life-threatening gullies and flash floods following wanton destruction of tree cover.
County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Sonia Nzilani has said the county will plant and grow at least 1.2M trees by the year 2026 in partnership with Mastercard Foundation to restore environmentally degraded lands in Makueni.
As part of a long-term strategy towards environmental conservation, the department is training and establishing environmental clubs in at least 18 schools to promote environmental education and greening programs.
The event was staged at Masokani County Technical Training Institute in Mbitini ward, Makueni Sub-county.
 
 

Makueni Opens Doors to The First Community-Led Development School in Africa.

Makueni on Thursday opened doors to one of its kind, a community-led development school and the first in Africa at Wote.
The school seeks to train citizens, community leaders, civil society professionals, and government officials from across the county and the country at large to ensure that every person has a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
It will also provide a platform to strengthen the capacity of county officials and community members on how they can be involved to localize sustainable development blueprints by the county.
While presiding over the inaugural function, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr described the school as timely, adding that the center will offer collaborative learning that will be demonstrating the power of government-civil society partners.
In his keynote address, John Coonrod, vice president of the Global Hunger project and the founder of Movement for Community-Led Development (MCLD) lauded the county community-led development aspect, saying that it’s the only way to structure society consistently with human dignity as it moves decision-making closer to the people.
Governor Kilonzo re-signed a M.O.U with John Coonrod where its collaboration includes fundraising for county development initiatives, capacity strengthening of county departments on proposal writing, and fundraising among other key areas.

Strides into the creation of the Konza buffer zone

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECMs Sonia Nzilani (lands), Elizebeth Muli (ICT & Education) on Monday joined John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS. Principal Secretary – State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Joseph Ole Lenku (Governor Kajiado), Francis Mwangangi Kilonzo (DG Machakos), John Paul Okwiri, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Konza Technopolis Development Authority(KoTDA) among other leaders during discussions on the creation of Konza Technopolis buffer zone to provide a good environment for investments.
The meeting set the following resolutions for the planning of the buffer zone
I. Republish the moratorium as the previous one has expired- This is to remind the stakeholders of the intended planning exercise
II. Enhance stakeholder engagement/ Public participation to understand the interest and rights of the Communities-Political leaders to be part of the agenda to support continued engagement with the members of the public
III. Identify quick wins to be shared with the public- This includes the beneficial effect of the exercise on the 73000 acres area of influence
IV. The moratorium is on- Need to appreciate the approved plan in 2013 which is still valid- Need to create a joint technical committee to start working at the Technopolis for the buffer zone area as a one-stop shop for all development applications
V. Allow now or in the future to develop a periodic schedule of meetings to brief the team/ country leadership on the progress
VI. Road Map- Consider and vote to approve adopt and allow to proceed with the implementation of the roadmap as presented by the chair ICJPLUPC.

Kasikeu Residents Receive Title deeds

At least 3,178 households from Kasikeu ward, Kilome constituency, are now the new holders of title deeds after a 28-year agonizing wait.

The residents were handed over the land ownership documents by governor Kivutha Kibwana and County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed at Kasikeu township Wednesday.

The Kasikeu adjudication section was established in 1992, covering Kiou, Wathini, Mutiswa and Mumela sections.

The issuance of the title deeds, governor Kibwana and Maalim said, was catalyzed by the One-Government-Approach of administration in Makueni county where the national and county governments work harmoniously where necessary.

The county government has facilitated the exercise by paying the processing fees and the issuance exercise.

From Squatters to Land Owners

At least 1,012 households from Wayani, within Nguu Settlement Scheme can now rest easy after receiving tittle deeds to their parcels of land.

The issuance of the title deeds brings to an end a 25-year land ownership battle between people initially considered squatters and members of Nguu Ranch Cooperative Society who claimed the settlement scheme was their ancestral land.

Efforts to settle the land ownership dispute has run through the years since 1995 when a survey was conducted but hit a snag, at times giving way to bloodletting, evictions and grabbing by hawk-eyed cartels with backing from the lands offices.

In 2018, the Makueni county government, in consultation with Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning and the National Land Commission established a joint taskforce to spearhead efforts towards ending the dispute and pave way for issuance of title deeds.

The county government funded the whole exercise at a cost of Sh 29 million.

On Wednesday, the Wayani residents, occupying a 7,341-acre piece of land were all smiles as they lined up at Matutu shopping centre to collect their title deeds.

The ceremony was graced by governor Kivutha Kibwana, NLC vice chair Gertrude Nduku Nguku and county commissioner Maalim Mohammed.

Commissioner Nduku commended the out of court dispute resolution mechanism spearheaded by Kibwana’s administration to resolve this conflict, saying it will be replicated all over the country as it had proven the most effective.

Residents from the Nguu section of the settlement scheme (26,472 acres) will soon receive their title deeds, now at the titling stage.

Kilome residents secure date with NLC over alleged land injustices

Over 3,000 members of Kiima Kiu-Kalanzoni and Mukaa (KIAMUKA) Society have secured a date with the National Land Commission to present their grievances on alleged historical land injustices committed against them.

The society members, spread across Mukaa and Kiima Kiu/Kalanzoni wards in Kilome constituency, claim that a 5,048-acre piece of land leased to a British immigrant Robin Woodcraft Stanley in 1947 was forcefully taken from them, and a myriad of atrocities committed during their eviction.

The society has since petitioned NLC to look into the alleged historical injustice committed against them and their petition admitted.

Mr. Stanley popularly known by the locals as Makala has also petitioned the land commission seeking to stop any proceedings of whatever kind in relation to the piece of land.

The locals also claim that the piece of land owned by Makala is bigger than the 5,048 acres declared in the title of lease and want a survey done to ascertain the authenticity of the declared size under lease.

In a meeting attended by NLC commissioner Dr. Rose Musyoka, Governor Kivutha Kibwana, County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, representatives of senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, members of county assembly and KIAMUKA society members on Monday, it was agreed that both the society members and Makala be heard by NLC in November to expeditiously put the matter to rest.

It was also agreed that the department of lands and urban planning in the county carry out a survey of the land next week as part of the process of the petition hearing.

Kibwana receives Kibwezi land from Nairobi firm

Makueni County government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dwa Estate Limited to transfer to the County Government a portion of land for the benefit of the local community.

The MoU was signed by Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana, who was accompanied by the Executive Committee Member for Lands and physical planning Joshua Wambua and Dwa Estate Limited managing director Neil Cuthbert at Nairobi.

The piece of land approximately 25 acres located between the existing PCEA church, the old railway line and the Kibwezi – Kitui road will now be accessed and used by the county after the company granted it a license.

According to Prof Kibwana, the land will be used to improve the ability of the local population to enhance their economic productivity so as to increase income and provide employment opportunities to the local community.

“The land donated to us will improve the economy of our people as well as provide job opportunities to them,” said the governor.