Mombasa activists demand private entities vacate Kenya Railways land for MGR expansion
The activists condemned what they termed a long-standing illegal occupation of state land by powerful individuals.
A group of civil society advocates in Mombasa has issued a strong appeal to private entities still occupying Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) land with lapsed leases, urging them to vacate promptly to facilitate the expansion of the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR).
The activists, led by Evans Momanyi, condemned what they termed a long-standing illegal occupation of state land by powerful individuals.
More To Read
- Over 8,500 former Kenya Railways employees move to court over retirement fund property sale
- MPs demand action as KURA–Kenya Railways dispute stalls Sh892m Likoni Road bridge project
- SGR sees first passenger decline since 2020 as fare hike boosts revenue by 39 per cent
- Kenya Power, Kenya Railways lead in public sector hiring of casual workers
- Number of travellers using SGR train drop by 7.2 per cent after fares hiked
- Court orders Mombasa County to keep off Frere Town Primary School land
They asserted that such land, crucial for public infrastructure, has been under the control of private businessmen for decades, thereby stalling national development efforts.
“Along Ganjoni, one can observe numerous plots that were originally under KRC’s jurisdiction but are now in the hands of private individuals. These are public assets that have been monopolised for up to five decades. Now that their lease terms have expired, the land should revert to the state to serve the public good,” stated Momanyi.
His sentiments were echoed by fellow activist Michael Nato, who called on relevant government agencies to take firm action against land grabbers. “There are three classifications of land: community, public, and private. Railway land falls under public land and must be utilised for the collective benefit of all citizens, not individual interests. One’s lineage or political connections should not be a licence to claim public property,” Nato said.
The activists rallied the public to support KRC’s development agenda, emphasising that safeguarding public land is a shared duty. Juma Athman, another member of the group, noted, “We see KRC’s development plans as people-centred. Through these initiatives, employment opportunities will arise, particularly for the youth.”
The group further proposed extending the MGR line to the Likoni Ferry area to help decongest the city and stimulate local commerce. “Expanding the railway to the ferry will not only boost business prospects in Mombasa but will also provide immense benefits to residents of Kwale County,” Momanyi added.
Meanwhile, Mvita MP Mohamed Soud Machele has called on the national government to ensure young people from Mombasa are prioritised for jobs arising from the new transit train project, which will connect passengers from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station in Miritini to the city’s central business district.
“This is not a plea, but a firm position. While the Metropolitan Rail Transit (MRT) project is a national venture, the infrastructure is being built in Mombasa and therefore local residents must take precedence when it comes to employment,” he asserted.
He further urged the Head of State to instruct the KRC Managing Director to allocate a significant portion of job opportunities to Mombasa’s youth. “Time and again, we have witnessed workers brought in from other parts of the country, leaving local talent untapped. That practice needs to end. Our young people must come first,” Machele insisted.
Top Stories Today
