NAIROBI – The Kenyan government is taking action to reclaim public land that has been unlawfully acquired by private developers in the Western region. Western Regional Commissioner Samson Irungu Macharia has issued a stern warning that all encroachers on government land in Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, and Bungoma counties must vacate immediately or face forceful eviction.
According to Kenya News Agency, this initiative follows recent demolitions in Kakamega’s upscale Milimani estate, where several private high-end buildings have been torn down to return the land to public use. Macharia explained that the operation involves a multi-agency team, including officials from the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning, Land Administration, and various security agencies.
The government aims to recover approximately 70 acres of public land in Kakamega town. The initial focus has been on block 3 of the town, but plans are in place to extend the effort to Vihiga, Busia, and Bungoma, where similar instances of illegal land acquisition have been identified.
Macharia disclosed that many of the leases for the land being reclaimed have either expired or were revoked by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) and later by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) through a gazette notice in 2017. He noted that most individuals who claimed ownership of the land did not follow proper procedures, and those who challenged the evictions in court and lost have still defied orders to vacate.
The reclaimed land is earmarked for several development projects, including affordable housing, which is a key flagship project under the Kenya Kwanza Government.