The county government of Tana River has informed its residents of plans to change land ownership in nine different areas in the county.
In a notice dated Friday, December 13, residents from Kone, Mikinduni, Handampia, Mji wa Pili, Minjila Malakoteni, Idsowe, Kipini Mjini, and Oda areas have been notified that the county, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, will be preparing local physical and land use development plans for the areas.
This means that the county will be formalising and securing land ownership for residents.
“Notice is given to all residents and stakeholders in Tana River County in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, which intends to prepare local physical and land use development plans for the above-mentioned project areas under the Second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP2),” the notice read in part.
Tana Rover Governor Dhadho Godhana signing the County solid waste management act on December 4, 2020.
CECM for Lands and Physical Planning for Tana River Mwanajuma Hiribae informed the residents that the goal of creating the local development plans is to improve land ownership security, provide necessary infrastructure, and control development in these areas.
“This will form the basis for the preparation of the plans, which aims at improving living conditions in Tana River County through regularisation of land tenure,” the notice by Hiribae revealed.
The planning exercise will involve a review of relevant policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks, community mobilisation, sensitisation, stakeholder engagement, base map preparation, undertaking socio-economic surveys and physical mapping of the settlements, and undertaking environmental and social impact assessment (screening).
The county will also undertake the preparation of local physical and land use development plans for the respective informal settlements, a social management plan and/or a resettlement action plan (RAP), surveying of resultant plots and preparation of survey plans, preparation of detailed topographical surveys for engineering designs, and preparation of a land information system (LIS).
Residents and relevant stakeholders have been invited by the county to participate in the planning process. All those who wish to participate can submit their comments or suggestions in writing to the county headquarters.
With the move, the residents are set to witness organised land use planning and development.
This notable move by the county ensures that people who occupy or use the land have recognised rights and ownership through documentation like title deeds.
It helps to protect residents from evictions, allows them to use their land as collateral for loans, and supports proper planning and development.
A photo of Ardhi House in Nairobi. PHOTO/President.go.ke
