Developers camp at Kalro’s beach plot in Mombasa

Private property developers have invaded a Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation (Kalro) land in Mombasa, risking the agency’s operations.

The grabbers invaded the prime 33-acre beach plot in Mtwapa in 2010 after the National Land Commission allegedly subdivided it into five portions and handed them to individuals as grants.

This prompted Kalro to seek the intervention of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which assisted in having the issued titles revoked.

The encroachers were, however, undeterred, forcing Kalro to seek restriction orders in court.

Kalro director-general Eliud Kireger said private developers have continued erecting property on three portions of the disputed land parcel despite a court order barring them from doing so.

“The Commissioner of Land subdivided this parcel of land into five plots that included LR No MN/III/2944, LR MN/III/2945, LR MN/III/2946, LR. MN/III/2947 and LR. MN/III/2948, allocated and issued grants to other entities/persons,” said Dr Kireger.

One of the parties — Baharini Developments Limited filed a suit seeking court orders to affirm their ownership of the said Mtwapa beach plots. The developer has since obtained temporary injunctions barring any interference with the land until the matter is heard and determined.

Kalro has owned the land since 1923. The Mtwapa land was being used for industrial crops research, an insectary, library and a guest house for visiting scientists.

“In 2019, Kalro realised that illegal occupants had moved into the remaining parcels of land and filed another petition,” said Dr Kireger.

He said the court granted interim orders barring the respondents from further trespassing into the agency’s parcel pending hearing and determination of the notice of motion.

Kalro has been a victim of land grabbing for many years. Dr Kireger said about 400 acres of its land is at risk of being encroached by private investors.

Early last year, the EACC repossessed 2,500 acres of land belonging to Kalro in Naivasha, which had been encroached by individuals.

In August, Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya warned that the government would repose all the land belonging to the State, which private investors have grabbed.