Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi. Photo Courtesy. 
By Ben Okweingoti.
Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi has warned security officers against being used by wealthy landowners and land grabbers to forcibly evict squatters from disputed land, saying the government is already implementing a long-term solution to address historical land injustices.
Speaking in Goshi Location, Malindi Constituency, Kilifi County, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new chief's office, Mnyazi said the national government had begun acquiring land from absentee landlords to resettle squatters and had allocated billions of shillings for the exercise.
She argued that ongoing evictions and demolition of homes undermine the government's efforts to resolve long-standing land disputes through a structured and peaceful process.
The legislator warned that any security officer found colluding with landowners to carry out unlawful evictions or demolitions would face disciplinary action.
"Residents will not be harassed. If there is a court order, it is the responsibility of the police and the security team to implement it lawfully. However, I have made it clear that no squatter's house should be demolished," she said.
Mnyazi noted that it would be contradictory for leaders to advocate for government acquisition of land to settle squatters while, at the same time, allowing forced evictions to continue.
At the same time, she cautioned members of the public against invading privately owned land in the hope of benefiting from the government's land acquisition programme.
She urged landowners whose property is occupied by squatters to engage the government so that their parcels can be considered for acquisition, saying this would provide a lasting solution to recurring land conflicts.
Malindi Division Assistant County Commissioner Irene Munyoki, who attended the event, echoed the MP's sentiments and urged residents to remain on the land they currently occupy rather than encroaching on other private property.
She clarified that the government's programme targets only parcels that have been occupied by squatters for many years and is being implemented jointly by the Office of the Member of Parliament and the local administration.
"The parcels the government intends to acquire are those that have been occupied by squatters for many years. This is a structured process that we are undertaking in collaboration with the Office of the Member of Parliament, where we jointly identify and agree on the affected parcels," Munyoki said.
She further appealed to landowners to avoid pursuing court-ordered evictions, noting that the government, under President William Ruto's administration, was committed to resolving the disputes through negotiated land acquisition and resettlement.
Meanwhile, Goshi Chief Naftali Birya appealed to the MP to lobby for the acquisition of four large parcels of land within his location to enable the resettlement of squatters and bring an end to decades of land disputes.
