Land ownership row: CS Duale's remarks spark outrage in Lamu

A section of leaders and residents are infuriated over Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s utterances on land ownership rights in Lamu.

During his visit to Lamu to preside over the inauguration and swearing-in of a Somali Community Sultan in a bid to forge harmony, peace and cultural progress in the county, Duale stressed that Lamu and Kenya are for everyone as the Constitution of Kenya 2010 says it.

“The stand of the Kenyan Government under President William Ruto is to have a unified Kenya and we will implement it. We respect our farmers, pastoralists and the fishermen in Lamu. All of them together, as a unit, will live in Lamu and every Kenyan living in Lamu is here by right. No one is in Lamu or found themselves in Lamu by mistake. Everyone here is Kenyan and is enjoying their legal and constitutional rights. Even these days, the Kenyan laws say that Riggy G (Rigathi Gachagua) has the right to be given a piece of land here,” said CS Duale.

The remarks have been received with mixed reactions by leaders and residents, with some praising Mr Duale for fighting for the rights of every tribe living in Lamu while others are criticizing him for what they claim is fostering incitement, divisions and increasing land-related squabbles in an area where such challenges are already rife.

Lamu nominated Senator, Shakila Abdalla, criticised CS Duale for discussing land issues which she described as sensitive in the area.

Shakila said Lamu already has enough land disputes and that it was inappropriate for CS Duale to say everyone has the right to live anywhere in the area.

She said the remarks might encourage more land prospects to come to Lamu, thus exacerbating the long-standing land-grabbing problem.

“We’re unhappy with CS Duale's sentiments. He says every Kenyan has the right to live anywhere in Lamu. That’s right. However, the constitution does not say that only Lamu is suitable for everyone to live. Why doesn't he say that people can live anywhere in Garissa, Nyeri and everywhere? Why is CS Duale’s emphasis only on Lamu where land disputes are already rampant? We feel that CS Duale is further inciting and inviting land grabbers and prospects to come and invade this place. We’re unhappy,” said Shakila.

Lamu Council of Elders Chairperson Mohamed Mbwana said there is already a dispute over the ownership of the Dar es Salaam Point located on the Kenya-Somalia border.

Leaders and residents of Lamu and Garissa have on many occasions come forward to fight and disagree over who is the rightful owner of the contested Dar es Salaam Point.

Mbwana reiterated that CS Duale’s remarks might be hidden and a conspiracy being thrown around in relation to the ongoing dispute over Dar es Salaam Point.

“If Duale is right in his sentiments, he should work with Governor Timamy to resolve the existing border dispute over the Dar es Salaam Point between Lamu and Garissa. We feel CS Duale’s comments on land matters, who should be settled where in Lamu, are provocative and should stop,” said Mbwana.

Ahmed Omar said the naming of former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, that he has the right to be given a piece of land in Lamu is not right as expected of a national leader like Duale.

“What did CS Duale mean by saying Gachagua has the right to be given a piece of land in Lamu? Why not someone else? We expect national leaders to be a unifying factor for citizens across the country and not dividing them,” said Omar.

On his part, Johnson Wainaina congratulated Duale, saying he sees no fault in what he said.

“We’ve been praying hard to hear leaders like Duale standing firm in defending all communities living in Lamu so that we can have the freedom to live wherever they want. Duale has acted as a voice for the voiceless and we commend him. We all have the right to live anywhere in Lamu and the country at large,” said Wainaina.