Trade Committee Closes in on Resolving the EAPC Land Dispute
The National Assembly, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee, led by Hon. James Gakuya (Embakasi North), held a meeting with key stakeholders to address various issues surrounding the performance of East African Portland Cement (EAPC). The Committee engaged with representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, as well as the National Land Commission (NLC) and EAPC to seek clarity on matters related to land ownership and compensation status.
During the meeting, the Principal Secretary, Nixon Korir, made an important revelation by presenting the Ministry’s submission that identified gaps in policy and legislation pertaining to the transfer and disposal of land by state agencies. Mr. Korir also asserted that, according to the title deed in the Ministry’s custody, EAPC is the rightful owner of the disputed land.
Gershom Otachi, the Chairman of the National Land Commission (NLC), assured the Committee that the information received during the meeting would be presented to the Kenya Railways Corporation. Additionally, the NLC would provide guidance on the appropriate steps to resolve the matter as per the Committee’s directives.
The Principal Secretary raised concerns about an alarming rise in fraud cases and pointed out a document that was initially presented, claiming to be signed by a Ministry official. However, he deemed the document as inauthentic, and the Ministry is now prepared to present the accurate information in court to establish the rightful owner of the parcel.
To ensure swift action, the Committee has instructed the National Land Commission (NLC) to expedite the resolution process and implement the necessary actions within a tight timeframe of 2 months.
In response to the revelations made during the meeting, Hon. Gakuya, the Committee Chairperson, expressed his satisfaction with the light shed on the matter. He also expressed optimism about bringing this issue to a close, addressing the concerns that arose during the investigation with a view to prevent similar cases in the future.
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