FOREIGN LANDOWNERS SHUN AUDIT AT COAST Kwale, Kenya: Only three foreigners owning land on a 99-year lease at the Coast have come forward to seek regularisation from the National Land Commission (NLC). The land commission reports that this category of landowners is often reluctant to disclose their holdings in the region. And the NLC has announced that a Swiss foreigner who has laid claim to Kisite Mpunguti Island off Shimoni in Kwale has lost it to the Government after the latter repossessed it two months ago. In an ongoing audit of foreign land ownership, 20 non-citizens across the country have heeded NLC’s orders and presented themselves to the commission. There has been minimal response from foreigners to seek regularisation of land leases with the commission as they only have 23 days remaining to be registered afresh and ensure their leases do not exceed 99 years. NLC chairman Mohammad Swazuri said Monday that foreigners were required to have their land leases of more than 99 years cut back with effect from 2010 when the current Constitution took effect. Most of the targeted leases are in Coast, Rift Valley and Nairobi regions. “I have ordered land registrars in the country to compile lists foreigners with land of more than 99 years lease to be forwarded to the commission,” Swazuri said. He further emphasised that it was a constitutional requirement for all non-citizens owning land of more than 99-year leases to be regularised, saying there were thousands of individuals who have failed to show up. Some foreigners are known to own exclusive and prime islands at the Kenyan coast. The commission has also announced that non-citizens who have not utilised the land within the 99-year lease would not have them renewed.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 01:12:01 +0000
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