Land grabbers: The Message Is Clear; Return What Is Not Yours

There was a time when Nairobi was blessed with countless playing fields. They came in different sizes from modest palygrounds within residential areas to sprawling fields for different sports within schools. So good was the situation that those who went through primary schools those days remember the wide grounds as a marked feature of their childhood. I am talking about the early 80s when large green spaces dotted Nairobi. Nowadays, the reverse is happening. From the late 90s land meant for public utilities in most parts of Kenya ended in the hands of greedy developers. The land had been acquired illegally.

Most of the land meant for playgrounds has been grabbed and a number of famous playgrounds serving communities in urban areas in the country have virtually disappeared in the last few years. All that remains in urban areas like Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru is a huge concrete jungle that sticks out like some sore thumb. The kids of today are missing what their fathers and mothers took for granted.

There have been all manner of investigations into alleged irregularities in land deals. Grabbing may have reduced in the past three or so years but the situation is already critical. Schools barely have space to take care of their needs let alone expand. You name any institution and you'll most likely hear some heart rending story of how some greedy developer took ownership of a parcel of land meant for expansion or development. Hospitals and prisons have not been spared the heat.

The government has decided to act on one sector of land grabbing. Invoking the need to protect the Mau Forest water catchment area, it has forced thousands of villagers to leave their homes in the area. The government says the country's future is at stake and if the water catchment dies then the entire nation will suffer. It is clear that the people were wrong to be there in the first place.

Some politicians from the Rift Valley are rightly angered that their constituents are being kicked out of the land without an alternative site for their relocation. But where were the same MPs when the people broke all the laws of the land to move into a sensitive water catchment area? What we need are sober discussions to sort out this problem. It is heartening to note that the Minister in charge of Internal Security John Michuki is addressing the problem. He met 24 legislators from the affected Rift Valley province but told them there was no going back on the order. They agreed to work together to ensure the process goes on smoothly.

Now that the hoi polloi, the man and woman on the street, have been made to pay the price of land grabbing and lost possessions in the process, it is our hope that the government will crack down on even bigger land grabbers. These are the well to do businessmen, politicians and civil servants who with total disregard to the law grabbed land meant for public utilities. They have to return what is not rightfully theirs. Public land has to be returned to public ownership. That way the young will enjoy the fruits of justice and enjoy their youth in abundance.