THE 16 year old controversy over the 930 acre Waitiki farm in Likoni could soon end as owner Evanson Kamau Waitiki has said he is willing to be compensated for the farm.
Over 120,000 squatters live on the land which stretches from close to the Likoni ferry landing for several kilometers to the left of the main Likoni -Kwale road. To the south, the farm covers large swathes of Timbwani and Shika Adabu wards.
Yesterday, Waitiki said he was willing to give up the land if he got compensation from the government.
The Waitiki farm was originally invaded by 75,000 people during the 1997 Kaya Bombo clashes.Since then Waitiki has been fighting to evict the squatters so that he can develop the land.
Last November, the Mombasa High Court finally issued an order directing the police to evict the squatters. Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and provincial police boss Aggrey Adoli served the orders but were reluctant to enforce the eviction citing lack of personnel.
The squatters have built homes, churches, mosques, and businesses there. Several police stations have also been put up there. The eviction could have affected at least half the developed properties in the expansive Likoni area.
Politicians, including the current Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, have historically made political mileage out of the dispute.
Yesterday Waitiki went to Mombasa Law Courts for a case where he has sued Kenya Power for encroachment by installing power distribution poles and transformers.The case was adjourned until today.
“I only get to hear about these plans from the media. No politician or government official has ever come to me to negotiate on the land. I believe in dialogue. Even enemies, before starting a fight, engage in dialogue. They can come and talk to me but I think these people are trying to hoodwink the public that they are genuine,” he said.
“These people are not squatters. They are investors. You can tell from the type of structures that they have put up. They should all come together and form a union and buy off my property," he said.
The 67 year old businessman said the dispute could continue to plague his children and grandchildren.
“I have many sons and daughters just like many African men. If I was to die today, they would come out fighting fiercely to have a piece of their inheritance. This is their right too,” said Waitiki.
Waitiki blamed a cartel inside his farm of unscrupulously benefiting from his properties including illegal collection of house rent.
“When they chased me away, they took over some of my properties including several hundred dairy cattle and a thousand chicken. Some are even collecting rent from the houses I had built,” he said.
Waitiki said he was forced to flee his farm during the 1997 ethnic clashes. "They would have killed me. I was only fortunate that I did not sleep at my farm that night. They had come for my head and would have taken over all of my property,” he said of the attackers.
Government officials including Land Secretary Charity Ngilu visited the farm on May 26 and assured the squatters that their homes would not be demolished and that they could continue living there.
Ngilu said a task force headed by local MP Masoud Mwahima would report back about the farm's ownership history and the number of squatters to enable the government to find a permanent solution.
Ngilu promised that 6,000 title deeds would be issued to Coast residents in line with Jubilee election promises.
However Governor Joho said he would instead solicit for funds for the resettlement of the Waitiki squatters as well as those at Kibarani and Dunga Unuse villages.
Waitiki said he bought the 930 acre plot from a businessman in 1975 for Sh2 million. The farm is now valued at Sh9.3 billion. Waitiki has steadfastly denied that the farm was a gift of President Jomo Kenyatta who is said to be a relative.
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