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Administrative officials have been put on notice over their alleged involvement in land grabbing within Nairobi’s South B estate.

While warning the officials behind the alleged menace, Nairobi South (South B) ward representative Waithera Chege vowed that no illegally acquired public land would remain in the hands of unauthorised occupants.

The MCA was speaking during an end-of-year thanksgiving service, where she criticised the role of local officials in enabling land theft and called for their immediate accountability.

All these land-grabbing menaces have emanated from the administrative offices,” she stated.

Chege, who is also the deputy minority leader, made it clear that there would be no tolerance for illegal occupation of public land under her leadership, regardless of the purported title deeds or the individuals involved.

“Whether you like it or not, there is no public land that will be grabbed. Whether the letter has come from the administrative office or not, nobody

declared.

The ward rep also called on the need for greater collaboration between local leaders and the Ministry of Lands to protect public property from further encroachment.

Her remarks come in the wake of growing concerns over land encroachments in the area, including a recent attempt to seize land in the Golden Gates, South B estate.

Decisive action

In addition, Chege called out other administrative officers, who she accused of misusing their positions to facilitate land theft. “These officials should stop misusing the Nyumba Kumi elders. I am putting on record all the administrative officers, we will not allow land grabbing in this ward,” she asserted.

Chege’s warning echoes the strong stance taken by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, who recently warned that the government would take decisive action against land grabbers, including officials involved in the illegal activities.

She reiterated the government’s commitment to recovering public land, no matter how long it has been illegally occupied. “We will recover what belongs to the government,” Wahome said, adding that even influential individuals who have facilitated land theft will face consequences.

Wahome also revealed that the government would enlist the support of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate land theft activities.

“There are many plots of public land that have been grabbed by influential people,” Wahome reiterated.